Vehicular heads-up display control techniques wherein content of a virtual display generated by the heads-up display system is controlled by actions of an occupant of the vehicle. The control device can be a voice-reception system which receives vocal commands from the occupant and/or a gesture-detection system which detects gestures by the occupant. One such gesture-detection system includes a camera having a field of view of hands or an upper body region of an occupant expected to exercise control of the heads-up display and a processor arranged to receive images from the camera, detect movement of a head, hand or arm of the occupant in one of predetermined number of areas and perform a function based on the detection of movement in the predetermined area. The function may be to alter the content of the heads-up display or adjustment of a vehicle component.

Vehicular Heads-Up Display System

The ability to travel is associated with freedom, activity and choice and driving offers an important mobility option for most elderly. Driving cessation is linked to an increase in depressive symptoms and a decline in out-of-home activity levels and community mobility. Further, for at least some people, the same health conditions and functional impairments that cause a change in driving patterns will also limit access to other transport options (walking, cycling, public transport), thereby further contributing to restricted community mobility and its consequences. Driving status thus plays a critical role in the complex interactions between aging, physical and psychological health, community mobility and use of health services. A good understanding of these relationships is required in order to enable older people to maintain economic and social participation and quality of life. This report provides a comprehensive review of international literature to assess the current state of knowledge with regard to the complex relationships between changing driving and travel patterns, aging, health status, and reduced mobility and the impact of poor mobility on quality of life. The findings from the literature review were used to compile a set of 'best-practice' recommendations to effectively manage the safe mobility of elderly road users. It is recommended that a coordinated approach that encompasses innovative strategies and initiatives to manage the mobility of older road users be adopted. Such an approach should include measures that focus on safer road users (appropriate management of 'at-risk' older drivers through appropriate licensing procedures and development of targeted educational and training programs), safer vehicles (improved crashworthiness of vehicles, raising of awareness amongst older drivers of the benefits of occupant protection, and development of ITS technologies), safer roads (creating a safer and more forgiving road environment to match the characteristics and needs of older road users), and improvements to alternative transport options (provision of accessible, affordable, safe and coordinated transport options that are tailored to the needs of older adults and promotion and awareness of alternative transport options amongst older drivers and their families/caregivers). Options for further research are also highlighted. Poor mobility places a substantial burden on the individual, families, community and society and there is a real need for policy makers, local governments and communities to consider the transportation needs of the elderly to support ongoing mobility.

The Elderly and Mobility: A Review of the Literature

Advanced in-vehicle technologies have been proposed as a potential way to keep older adults driving for as long as they can safely do so, by taking into account the common declines in functional abilities experienced by older adults. The purpose of this report was to synthesize the knowledge about older drivers and advanced in-vehicle technologies, focusing on three areas: use (how older drivers use these technologies), perception (what they think about the technologies), and outcomes (the safety and/or comfort benefits of the technologies). Twelve technologies were selected for review and grouped into three categories: crash avoidance systems (lane departure warning, curve speed warning, forward collision warning, blind spot warning, parking assistance); in-vehicle information systems (navigation assistance, intelligent speed adaptation); and other systems (adaptive cruise control, automatic crash notification, night vision enhancement, adaptive headlight, voice activated control). A comprehensive and systematic search was conducted for each technology to collect related publications. 271 articles were included into the final review. Research findings for each of the 12 technologies are synthesized in relation to how older adults use and think about the technologies as well as potential benefits. These results are presented separately for each technology. Can advanced in-vehicle technologies help extend the period over which an older adult can drive safely? This report answers this question with an optimistic “yes.” Some of the technologies reviewed in this report have been shown to help older drivers avoid crashes, improve the ease and comfort of driving, and travel to places and at times that they might normally avoid.

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186%2Fs40621-016-0093-4.pdf

Use, perceptions, and benefits of automotive technologies among aging drivers.

Driving, Navigation, and Vehicular Technology: Experiences of Older Drivers and Their Co-Pilots

A computer based system and method for designing an automotive vehicle based on occupant vision orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors vision study is electronically performed to determine occupant vision with at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or both, so that the design meets a predetermined vision criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the vision criteria. If a parameter change is made, the system and method automatically rebuild every other effected dimension, and vehicle systems to satisfy the regenerated design are automatically selected from all electronic parts library so that packaging alternatives can be quickly studied. A geometric representation of occupant vision relative to a vehicle system may be displayed to allow a designer to visually assess compliance with a particular vision criteria. The occupant representation, vehicle, vehicle system, and geometric representation of the occupant vision may be rendered and animated in three-dimensions permitting views from various perspectives. The method and system can quickly provide accurate human factors vision studies for a vehicle design while allowing system packaging flexibility.

Method and system for vehicle design using occupant vision zones

The DRIVE II project EDDIT (Elderly and Disabled Drivers' Information Telematics) has evaluated a number of in-vehicle telematic systems in terms of their potential value in extending the safe driving life of the elderly. Although the terms of reference of the project focus on the benefits and safety implications for what appears to be a particularly vulnerable group-the over-65s- EDDIT's experimental work has provided valuable insights into ergonomic issues that concern all users, and has highlighted both the usefulness and usability of different types of man-machine interface. Among the devices tested have been two reversing aids (one dashboard-mounted, the other located behind the driver), three types of route guidance system and a head-up night vision enhancement system. Unlike other in-vehicle innovations, such as mobile telephones and music systems, the systems studied within EDDIT add another element to the driving task, leading potentially to an increase in the driver's visual and mental workload, and many of them require the user to switch his/her visual attention from the road scene ahead. The possible safety implications of using such devices are therefore very important, particularly in the case of elderly people, whose capacity to cope with the various mental and cognitive demands of driving may in any case be almost saturated. This paper discusses these issues in the light of the results of EDDIT'S field trials.

The ergonomic and safety implications of in-car ATT devices-evidence from field trials with elderly drivers

This paper describes on-road trials of two route-guidance systems with samples of drivers aged 65 and over. The results suggest that the availability of navigation systems could be of benefit to a substantial proportion of elderly drivers, particularly in encouraging them to drive to new and unfamiliar places. The effects of using route guidance on driving safety vary at the individual level, but in general do not appear to have a deleterious effect. The variations between the safe driving characteristics of the individual subjects are far larger than the changes induced by using route guidance. (A) For the covering abstract see IRRD 868006.

The use of route guidance systems by elderly drivers

The evaluations using the "TraveIpilot" route guidance system have shown that a sample of 35 elderly drivers has been able to use the device in a real driving situation, in an unfamiliar car and a largely unfamiliar area, with no safety-related problems. Furthermore, in the opinion of an expert driving assessor, the overall standard of the sample's driving was not adversely affected when the route guidance system was used. It has been observed, however, that some drivers' performance deteriorated to some degree when faced with the dual task of driving and following the route guidance system's instructions. Similarly, recordings of subjects' glance strategies when using the system have suggested that those with a better short-term memory, are equipped to use the technology more effectively.

B.E. Ayala

Papers

The ergonomic and safety implications of in-car ATT devices-evidence from field trials with elderly drivers

The use of route guidance systems by elderly drivers

What are the benefits and safety implications of route guidance systems for elderly drivers