Attention to Trust

Data on driver attention as a basis for human-vehicle dialogue

The human attention span is shrinking over time – this phenomenon is accelerating due to the increasing automation of everyday services. Actually, we are being programmed to be more dependent on technology.

A study by Microsoft concluded that the human attention span in terms of focusing on a task or object has dropped to eight seconds – it has thus shrunk by nearly 25% in just a few years.

Head movement – an indication for attention

Recent research modelling how trust and attention affect the way humans interact with autonomous vehicles has pointed out that our attention level decreases when we are more trusting. A higher workload results in lower levels of attentiveness in people when they are driving an AV.

I started observing drivers’ body gestures and realized that head and eye movement frequency is linked to our attentiveness while driving: more movement equals more attention. So even with no car mirrors and using a screen, our eyes still indicate one’s attention level.

Bili Regev

Bili Regev is a service and experience designer, holding a Bachelor's degree from the Design Academy Eindhoven and a Master's degree in Design and Technology from Bezalel. She creates experiences with ClownX Street Theater Group and explores the boundary between technology, emotions and behaviour through a multidisciplinary approach to media and a toolbox of design thinking.