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2026, 03, v.24 1-15
Analysis of the impact of in-vehicle information system interaction task complexity on drivers' cognitive load and behavioral performance
Email: fzx@hfut.edu.cn;
DOI: 10.19961/j.cnki.1672-4747.2025.03.008
Received:   2025-03-05
Received Year:   2025
Revised:   2025-04-01
Accepted:   2026-04-21
Accepted Year:   2026
Review Duration(Year):   2
Published:   2025-04-03
Publication Date:   2025-04-03
Online:   2025-04-03
Mobile reading
Abstract:

[Background] In recent years, in-vehicle information systems(IVIS) have rapidly become popular in the commercial vehicle market. This touchscreen-based human-machine interaction system enhances the level of information visualization and simultaneously introduces the non-negligible issue of driver distraction, posing a potential threat to driving safety. [Objective] This study aimed to explore the effects of interaction task complexity and demographic parameters on drivers' cognitive load and behavioral performance when interacting with IVIS interfaces. [Method] A within-and between-subject repeated measures experimental design was employed by recruiting 60 drivers for a driving simulator experiment. The effects of different independent variables on drivers' fixation allocation, steering entropy, vehicle speed, task completion time, and subjective and objective cognitive loads were explored using generalized estimating equations and their post hoc tests, and the drivers' fixation behaviors while interacting with the IVIS interface were visualized using Python software. [Result] Tasks with high complexity led to distraction, poorer driving performance(i.e., increased steering entropy and operation completion time), and subjective and objective cognitive loads also tended to increase. The average vehicle speed of male drivers was 9.45 km/h higher than that of females. Additionally, drivers in the older age group(41-60 years old) had a higher risk-perceiving ability, even though the task operation completion time was longer. [Application] In conclusion, the study findings can provide guidance for the optimization of IVIS interaction and personalized human-machine interaction(HMI) design for future intelligent vehicles, and improve HMI reliability.

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Basic Information:

DOI:10.19961/j.cnki.1672-4747.2025.03.008

China Classification Code:U491.25;U463.6

Citation Information:

[1]GAO Ya,FENG Zhongxiang,LI Jingyu.Analysis of the impact of in-vehicle information system interaction task complexity on drivers' cognitive load and behavioral performance[J].Journal of Transportation Engineering and Information,2026,24(03):1-15.DOI:10.19961/j.cnki.1672-4747.2025.03.008.

Fund Information:

国家自然科学基金项目(52272345); 安徽省重点研究与开发计划项目(202304a05020050); 安徽省自然科学基金杰青项目(2408085J028); 安徽省研究生学术创新项目(2023xscx015)

Received:  

2025-03-05

Received Year:  

2025

Revised:  

2025-04-01

Accepted:  

2026-04-21

Accepted Year:  

2026

Review Duration(Year):  

2

Published:  

2025-04-03

Publication Date:  

2025-04-03

Online:  

2025-04-03

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