As driver distraction from in-vehicle devices increasingly becomes
a concern, researchers have searched for better scientific understanding
of distraction along with better engineering tools to build less
distracting devices. We have developed a new system, Distract-R,
that allows designers to rapidly prototype and evaluate new in-vehicle
interfaces. The core engine of the system uses a computational driver
model specified in ACT-R extended with threaded cognition,
along with an integrated-model approach with models of behavior on the prototyped interfaces to generate
predictions of distraction. Distract-R allows a designer to prototype
basic interfaces, demonstrate possible tasks on these interfaces,
specify relevant driver characteristics and driving scenarios, and
finally simulate, visualize, and analyze the resulting behavior
as generated by the cognitive model. We have performed sample studies
that demonstrate the system's ability to account for effects
of input modality and driver age on performance.
The current release of the Distract-R system is available as a downloadable application and as a runnable Java applet.
This Youtube video shows a brief demonstration of the system.