Simulated Augmented Reality Windshield Display as a Cognitive Mapping Aid for Elder Driver Navigation

My comments on other blogs:

In this paper Seung Jun Kim and Anind K. Dey from the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University explore the benefits of using augmented reality in vehicles and the effect it has on the driver, namely elderly drivers.  It is common that elderly people often have much more trouble driving as they get older.  It is also common that as they lose their ability to navigate the road, even in familiar territory, they feel less likely to leave for fear of being lost.  This fear leads to a major reduction in individual mobility.  The goal of this paper is to directly address this problem with an easier to use GPS.

The common factor that varies from conventional GPS systems is that they are often placed outside the direct line of view of the driver.  Meaning that the driver must divide their attention, half the time on the road, half the time on the GPS.  The system proposed in this paper projects a 2.5 dimensional GPS display onto the windshield.  This effect would help the driver to visualize the roads and more easily recognize streets along with the original functionality of the GPS systems we use today.

With the use of this software, studies found that when comparing conventional GPS systems to the windshield projected display GPS system, the windshield device slightly increased the driver's ability to correctly navigate in young drivers.  In older drivers, the windshield device substantially improved the driver's ability to navigate unfamiliar roads correctly.  All drivers were more aware of their surroundings and kept their eyes on the road more often with the augmented reality windshield device than with conventional GPS systems.

Discussion:

I believe this idea is well worth the research that was put into it.  Of course this sounds like a good/cool idea, but what if the projected display is not transparent enough and actually heeds the drivier's vision?  The author didn't directly address this statement, but I believe further research will help develop an idea of what a good transparency level would be.  While this paper would not have been my first choice of reading, the thoughts and ideas proposed are valid and worth reading.