Abstract
A laboratory study was carried out to determine the frequency and duration of operator direct looks to fingertip and panel-mounted automotive controls. Five groups of 16 subjects each were tested on one of five multifunction stalk configurations. Movement and operation times were recorded as subjects performed a secondary tracking task during which commands were given to find and operate automotive controls. The results indicate that drivers' direct looks to a control increased as a function of hand travel distance to the control. Large differences were found between stalk and panel-mounted controls. The type of multifunction stalk had an effect on subjects' performance and frequency of direct looks.
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