Fiona Burns-Hemingway, Brett B T Feltmate, Raymond M Klein
{"title":"An Automobile's Tail Lights: Sacrificing Safety for Playful Design?","authors":"Fiona Burns-Hemingway, Brett B T Feltmate, Raymond M Klein","doi":"10.1177/00187208241237860","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The counterintuitive \"Union Jack\"-inspired turn signals on versions of BMW's Mini vehicles was investigated to reveal potential impacts on human performance.</p><p><strong>Background: </strong>When some Mini drivers indicate a change in direction, they do so with an oppositely oriented arrow. This conflict, between the task-irrelevant spatial shape and task-relevant location of the signal, mimics a \"converse\" spatial-Stroop effect that, in combination with the ubiquitous use of arrows on road signs, may be confusing.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Participants (<i>n</i> = 30) responded-via right and left keypresses-to the directions of road signs and turn signals in both pure and mixed blocks. Reaction times and accuracies were recorded to determine performance in each condition (compatible, neutral, incompatible).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Performance suffered when the location and direction of the stimuli did not correspond. When responding to turn signals the cost to performance was especially salient in mixed blocks. Thus, when driving on roads where the meanings of arrows on road signs is important, turn signals pointing in a direction opposite from the directional intention indicated by the signals' location are likely to be confusing.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The design of some Mini's \"Union Jack\" style taillights opposes well-established principles of cognitive functioning, caused confusion in our laboratory study and therefore may be a safety hazard-a possibility that ought to be explored in more realistic (e.g., driving simulator) situations.</p><p><strong>Application: </strong>BMW designers should consider universally adopting the neutral, \"horizontal line,\" illumination style that is currently available in the aftermarket.</p>","PeriodicalId":56333,"journal":{"name":"Human Factors","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11555907/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Human Factors","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/00187208241237860","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/3/15 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: The counterintuitive "Union Jack"-inspired turn signals on versions of BMW's Mini vehicles was investigated to reveal potential impacts on human performance.
Background: When some Mini drivers indicate a change in direction, they do so with an oppositely oriented arrow. This conflict, between the task-irrelevant spatial shape and task-relevant location of the signal, mimics a "converse" spatial-Stroop effect that, in combination with the ubiquitous use of arrows on road signs, may be confusing.
Method: Participants (n = 30) responded-via right and left keypresses-to the directions of road signs and turn signals in both pure and mixed blocks. Reaction times and accuracies were recorded to determine performance in each condition (compatible, neutral, incompatible).
Results: Performance suffered when the location and direction of the stimuli did not correspond. When responding to turn signals the cost to performance was especially salient in mixed blocks. Thus, when driving on roads where the meanings of arrows on road signs is important, turn signals pointing in a direction opposite from the directional intention indicated by the signals' location are likely to be confusing.
Conclusion: The design of some Mini's "Union Jack" style taillights opposes well-established principles of cognitive functioning, caused confusion in our laboratory study and therefore may be a safety hazard-a possibility that ought to be explored in more realistic (e.g., driving simulator) situations.
Application: BMW designers should consider universally adopting the neutral, "horizontal line," illumination style that is currently available in the aftermarket.
期刊介绍：
Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society publishes peer-reviewed scientific studies in human factors/ergonomics that present theoretical and practical advances concerning the relationship between people and technologies, tools, environments, and systems. Papers published in Human Factors leverage fundamental knowledge of human capabilities and limitations – and the basic understanding of cognitive, physical, behavioral, physiological, social, developmental, affective, and motivational aspects of human performance – to yield design principles; enhance training, selection, and communication; and ultimately improve human-system interfaces and sociotechnical systems that lead to safer and more effective outcomes.
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