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In-Vehicle Display Icons and Other Information Elements: Volume I

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CHAPTER 10: SENSORY MODALITY DESIGN TOOL

This section of the guidelines provides designers of in-vehicle icons with a design tool that can help determine the most appropriate display modality for presenting in-vehicle information elements. This tool was originally developed as part of the preliminary assessment of symbols and is described in more detail in Lee et al. (1998). The tool was generated based on an examination of the general design rules found in relevant literature.

Figure 10-1. Sensory Modality Design Tool

The design tool asks designers to respond to several questions independently. For each question, their response will range from "very low" to "very high." Each response is associated with a point value for the three modalities (visual, auditory, and tactile). After all five questions have been answered, the point values are totaled for each of the modalities. The steps a designer must complete to use this design tool are summarized below and shown in detail in the figure on the following page.

Figure 10-2. Steps for Using the Sensory Modality Design Tool

Determining the most appropriate modality is not always as easy as selecting the one that receives the highest point value. In cases where two modalities receive high scores (15 or greater), it is suggested that the information be presented using some combination of the two. This will reflect the fact that both modalities are necessary to adequately present the information. In cases where two modalities receive the same score or they are only one point apart, it is suggested that the information be presented using either of the two modalities. In all other cases, the modality that receives the highest score is the suggested mode of presentation for that piece of information. Decisions regarding which one to use may be based on additional information regarding context or display constraints. If, however, two modalities receive scores that are both higher than 15 and only one point apart, then the benefits of using both modalities outweigh other design considerations and the information should be presented by combining the two modalities, instead of choosing between them. By prioritizing the rules below, the designer will know which one to use in cases where more than one is applicable. The rules for determining the most appropriate modality can be summarized as follows.

Figure 10-3. Rules for Determining Display Modality

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