• Enhancing in-car interface eff...

*Result*: Enhancing in-car interface efficiency: The influence of menu configuration on cognitive load and visuospatial memory.

Title:
Enhancing in-car interface efficiency: The influence of menu configuration on cognitive load and visuospatial memory.
Authors:
Cao J; Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan., Chu HL; National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan., Chen YL; National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan., Chu CH; Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan., Huang YY; Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan., Lee YJ; Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Source:
Ergonomics [Ergonomics] 2026 Mar; Vol. 69 (3), pp. 543-559. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Feb 27.
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Informa Healthcare Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0373220 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1366-5847 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00140139 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Ergonomics Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Publication: London : Informa Healthcare
Original Publication: London, Taylor & Francis.
MeSH Terms:
Memory, Short-Term*/physiology , Cognition*/physiology , User-Computer Interface* , Automobiles*, Workload/psychology ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult ; Task Performance and Analysis ; Adult ; Electroencephalography ; Eye-Tracking Technology
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: Menu type; electroencephalography(EEG); eye tracking; in-vehicle information/infotainment system; visuospatial working memory load
Local Abstract: [plain-language-summary] The use of the grouping menu improved task performance and visual search efficiency. However, using the hierarchical menu resulted in increased levels of visuospatial working memory load.Higher mental load led to poorer operation of the in-vehicle touchscreen menu. Therefore, in-vehicle systems should take into account visuospatial working memory interference factors.
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20250227 Date Completed: 20260218 Latest Revision: 20260218
Update Code:
20260218
DOI:
10.1080/00140139.2025.2470951
PMID:
40013349
Database:
MEDLINE

*Further Information*

*The study examines the impacts of different menu types on touchscreen operations under varying visuospatial working memory (VSWM) loads through an in-vehicle information/infotainment system (IVIS). Using eye-tracking, EEG data, and the NASA-TLX questionnaire, it assesses the effects of menu types and VSWM loads on task performance, visual search efficiency, and mental workload. The 36 participants were divided into hierarchical and grouping menu groups, demonstrating that grouping menus exhibit better task performance and visual search efficiency. In contrast, hierarchical menus cause a higher subjective mental workload under greater VSWM loads. Theta waves in the occipital brain region indicate reduced mental workload for grouping menus, and alpha waves in the central region correlate with VSWM load. For goal-oriented search tasks, consider the number of fixations and VSWM interference in IVIS testing. Future studies should simulate real menu usage scenarios and multitasking to offer practical design guidance for in-vehicle and aviation systems.*