The impact of in-vehicle screen notifications on the driver : The relationship between various personality traits and cognitive load levels in in-vehicle screen notifications

Abstract: These days, everything revolves around technology, and we have instantaneous access to all information. To stay up to date on current events, we get notifications on our smart devices when relevant articles or messages become available. Displays and other forms of technology are ubiquitous in today's car interiors to both enhance the driving experience and keep the driver in touch with the information they provide. However, depending on the situation and task at hand, these notifications can elicit a variety of reactions from us when they appear at an inconvenient time. The problem statement of this research was that there was very little amount of research done on the connection between drivers with different personality traits and how the incoming in-vehicle notifications affect them in various cognitive load scenarios. This study put participants in a practical research where they have been doing a primary task while interacting with notifications as a side task. The tasks at hand have been divided based on the user's cognitive load, or the amount of focus required for that activity, like different driving scenarios in real life. We have collected sufficient data through practical research in which participants have been placed in a scenario of performing a primary task while interacting with incoming notifications. Prior to that, the personality traits of the participants have been determined using a survey, which assisted us in connecting the similarities and differences among the various personality trait groups. In the practical part of the study, a screen was used on which the participant performed a primary task in the form of a video game, as well as a screen beside him, mimicking an infotainment screen, with incoming notifications with which he had to interact. This provided us with accurate data based on its similarity to an actual everyday scenario, such as while driving a car. The findings aided in establishing a clear link between personality traits, levels of cognitive load, and notifications in general, and how they are interlinked.