Detecting short periods of elevated workload: A comparison of nine workload assessment techniques.

Abstract

The present experiment tested the merits of 9 common workload assessment techniques with relatively short periods of workload in a car-driving task.Twelve participants drove an instrumented car and performed a visually loading task and a mentally loading task for 10,30, and 60 s.The results show that 10-s periods of visual and mental workload can be measured successfully with subjective ratings and secondary task performance.With respect to longer loading periods (30 and 60 s), steering frequency was found to be sensitive to visual workload, and skin conductance response (SCR) was sensitive to mental workload.The results lead to preliminary guidelines that will help applied researchers to determine which techniques are best suited for assessing visual and mental workload.In recent years, major research programs in Europe, the United States, and Japan have boosted the development of information systems in road traffic.In Europe, these systems are referred to as transport telematics, but in the United States the term intelligent transport systems (ITS) is more common.It is generally expected that transport telematic applications will change the nature of car driving considerably in the near future.A vast array of telematics systems is currently being considered.Some well-known examples are route guidance systems, anticollision systems, systems for monitoring driver status, and parking advice systems.However, installing even a subset of these telematic systems, many of which are aimed at supporting the driver and increasing traffic safety, may lead to distraction and overload of the driver and will result in increased accident rates.Therefore, care should be taken to design telematics