An information structural model of vehicle navigation and its implications

This paper proposes a simple model to provide a framework for investigating human behaviour with Vehicle Navigation Aids (VNA). The model consist of planning, decision making, control, and perception. Decisions are made by comparing perceived cues from the outside view with expected cues from planning. VNA assists mainly in dynamic planning, providing support and updating to the cognitive map navigators have of their environment. Unlike other models of vehicle navigation systems that emphasize the Driver-Machine interaction in navigation, the proposed model presents navigation decisions as a dynamic process of comparing and integrating the very important outside view with information from VNA displays. The implications of the model for using multiple modal displays, for timing and pacing of information, and for visual attention competition are discussed.