Evaluating realistic visualizations for safety-related in-car information systems

This paper reflects on the currently observable evolution of in-vehicle information systems towards realistic visualization. As compared to common schematic maps, hi-fidelity visualizations might support an easier recognition of the outside world and therefore better contribute to driving safety. On the other hand, too much visual detail might distract from the primary driving task. We present an experimental car-simulator study with 28 users, in which the in-car HMI was systematically manipulated with regard to representation of the outside world. The results show that perceived safety is significantly higher with 1:1 realistic views than with conventional schematic styles, despite higher visual complexity. Furthermore, we found that the more demanding the safety recommendation on the HMI, the more realistic visualization are perceived as a valuable support.