The transfer of tactical aviation technology into automobiles is creating information display requirements that are likely to be met by use of the head-up display (HUD). These developments are based largely on conclusions that the HUD-related safety issues raised in the aviation HUD literature can be dismissed and that the benefits of using HUDs are certain. Such conclusions either neglect relevant research or are supported by a very small amount of evidence, much of which is either irrelevant or generated within a flawed methodological paradigm. This critical review covers the issues of (a) HUD focal distance and its effect on the perception of outside objects and (b) the effects of HUD imagery on visual attention. The issues of focal distance, cognitive capture, and the inherent connection between the two may have a greater impact on safety in the automotive context than they do in aviation.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Bossi, L., Ward, N., & Parkes, A. (1994). The effect of simulated vision enhancement systems on driver peripheral target detection and identification. Ergonomics and Design, 4, 192–195.
2.
Enderby, C. M., & Wood, S. T. (1992). Head-up display in automotive/aircraft applications (SAE Tech. Paper 920740). In Electronic display technology and information systems (SP-904, pp. 39–48). Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers.
3.
Fischer, E., Haines, R. F., & Price, T. A. (1980). Cognitive issues in head-up displays (NASA Tech. Paper TP-1711). Moffett Field, CA: NASA-Ames Research Center.
4.
Flannagan, M. J., & Harrison, A. K. (1994). The effects of automobile head-up display location for younger and older drivers (Report UMTRI-94-22). Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
5.
Gish, K. W., & Staplin, L. (1995). Human factors aspects of using head-up displays in automobiles: A review of the literature (Report DOT HS 808 320). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation.
6.
Harrison, A. (1994). Head-up displays for automotive applications (Report UMTRI-94-10). Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.
7.
Hasebe, H., Ohta, T., Nakagawa, Y., Matsuhiro, K., Sawada, K., & Matsushita, S. (1990). Head up display using dot matrix LCD (II; SAE Technical Paper 900667). In Automotive electronic displays and information systems (SP-809, pp. 81–87). Warrendale PA: Society of Automotive Engineers.
8.
Iavecchia, J. H., lavecchia, H. P., & Roscoe, S. N. (1988). Eye accommodation to head-up virtual images. Human Factors, 30, 689–702.
9.
Inuzuka, Y., Osumi, Y., & Shinkai, H. (1991). Visibility of head up display (HUD) for automoblles. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 35th Annual Meeting (pp. 1574–1578). Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
10.
Intelligent Transportation Society of America. (1994). National ITS program plan (Vol. 2, Sec. 7.4). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation.
11.
Kato, H., Ito, H., Shima, J., Imaizumi, M., & Shibata, H. (1992). Development of hologram head-up display (SAE Tech. Paper 920600). In Electronic display technology and information systems (SP-904, pp. 21–27). Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers.
12.
Kiefer, R. J. (1991). Effects of a head-up versus head-down digital speedometer on visual sampling behavior and speed control performance during daytime automobile driving (SAE Tech. Paper 910111). Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers.
13.
Norman, J., & Ehrlich, S. (1986). Visual accommodation and virtual image displays: Target detection and recognition. Human Factors, 28, 135–151.
14.
Okabayashi, S., Sakata, M., Fukano, J., Daidoji, S., Hashimoto, C, & Ishikawa, T. (1989). Development of practical heads-up display for production vehicle application (SAE Tech. Paper 890559). In Automotive information systems and electronic displays: Recent developments (SP-770, pp. 69–78). Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers.
15.
Okabayashi, S., Sakata, M., & Hatada, T. (1991). Driver's ability to recognize objects in the forward view with superposition of head up display images. In Proceedings of the Society for Information Display, 32, 465–468.
16.
Roscoe, S. N. (1987a). The trouble with HUDs and HMDs. Human Factors Society Bulletin, 30(7), 1–3.
17.
Roscoe, S. N. (1987b). The trouble with virtual images revisited. Human Factors Society Bulletin, 30(11), 3–5.
18.
Simonelli, N. M. (1983). The dark focus of the human eye and its relationship to age and visual defect. Human Factors, 25, 85–92.
19.
Smith, G., Meehan, J. W., & Day, R. H. (1992). The effect of accommodation on retinal image size. Human Factors, 34, 289–301.
20.
Sojourner, R. J., & Antin, J. F. (1990). The effects of a simulated head-up display speedometer on perceptual task performance. Human Factors, 32(3), 329–339.
21.
Spelling, G. (1960). The information available in brief visual presentations. Psychological Monographs, 72 (Whole No. 11).
22.
Weihrauch, M., Meloeny, G. G., & Goesch, T. C. (1989). The first head-up display introduced by General Motors (SAE Tech. Paper 890288). In Automotive information systems and electronic displays: Recent developments (SP-770, pp. 55–62). Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers.
23.
Weintraub, D. J. (1987). HUDs, HMDs, and common sense: Polishing virtual images. Human Factors Society Bulletin, 30(10), 1–3.
24.
Weintraub, D. J., & Ensing, M. (1992). Human factors issues in head-up display design: The book of HUD (CSERIAC state of the art report). Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH: Crew System Ergonomics Information Analysis Center.
25.
Weintraub, D. J., Haines, R. F., & Randle, R. J. (1984). The utility of head-up displays: Eye-focus vs. decision times. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 28th Annual Meeting (pp. 529–533). Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
26.
Weintraub, D. J., Haines, R. F., & Randle, R. J. (1985). Head-up display (HUD) utility: II. Runway to HUD transitions monitoring eye focus and decision times. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 29th Annual Meeting (pp. 615–619). Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
27.
Wickens, C. D., & Long, J. (1994). Conformal symbology, attention shifts, and the head-up display. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 38th Annual Meeting (pp. 6–10). Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
