Tactile displays hold promise as an effective and efficient means of presenting a wide range of information to the driver. This study examined the subjective perceptions of urgency and annoyance for tactile signals of different pulse duration, interpulse interval (IPI), and pulse pattern from devices called tactors located on the wrist, on the waist belt, or in the seat pan. Results revealed significant utility (steep increases in urgency without similarly steep increases in annoyance) for signals presented in pulse durations from 10 to 150 ms with decreasing utility beyond this range (200 ms or greater). Perceived urgency showed a decreasing trend as the IPI increased. Strikingly similar magnitude estimation functions were obtained across the three tactor locations. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for tactile display design in vehicles.
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