Effects of NDRT Interface Display and Control Modalities on Motion Sickness and Preference During Autonomous Driving

This study investigates the impact of nondriving-related task (NDRT) interface design, specifically the choice of display and control modalities, on the severity of autonomous vehicle motion sickness (AV MS) and passenger preference. Participants completed a letter 2-back task under four different interface conditions: visual-manual, visual-speech, auditory-manual, and auditory-speech. The Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire was used to measure MS levels before and after each on-road trial. Results indicated that MS severity was significantly lower for auditory display than for visual display, while control modality had no significant effect. In terms of preference, participants showed a higher preference for visual interfaces in the in-laboratory environment, whereas auditory and speech control interfaces were preferred in the on-road environment. These findings suggest that optimizing NDRT interface design, particularly through the use of auditory displays and speech controls, can mitigate AV MS and enhance passenger comfort. This research contributes to the ongoing efforts to improve user experience and acceptance of AV technology.