Hands-Free Siri Interactions Result in Highest Levels of Mental Distraction While Driving

[caseyfriday]

It's ridiculous for people to be updating FB, etc. while driving. I don't check texts unless I'm stopped at a light. When the light changes, phone goes back on the console and I don't touch it again until I'm stopped.

I use Siri to find directions, or perhaps send a quick text like "i'll be home in 10 minutes" but other than that, I just drive.

You shouldn't be using your phone in the car period. This is why I got rid of my smartphone 3 years ago. I honk at people at stoplights about 60% of the time, because they're busy 'being safe' by updating facebook while stopped, while the light's been green for 5 seconds already.

I look forward to the day when cell phones are banned completely from cars.

 

[Keirasplace]

I'm guessing you failed Intro to Stats

It depends how representative the sampling is.

Making sure your 45 are truly representative of the average users in this case is a bit dubious.

It is very very hard to make a representative sampling of a system when how familiar you are with its use changes your interaction and the task you pick for your study have a very big impact on the results.

How much training the voice recognition machine has to your voice is also crucial to proper use.

Most problems in studies come from subject selection and the construction of the study / questionaire itself, which seems to be the case here too. Unless reading the study itself makes those limitations clear.

 

[mrjr101]

This is my favorite part:

“Evaluated sending/receiving texts, updating Facebook/Twitter and checking calendar by using voice commands while driving.”

Seriously? THAT'S what you tested? The only thing on that list I would actually do in the car is send a text, which is extremely easy. "Tell Bob I'm on way."

Why not test map navigation, which is equally simple? "Take me to Panera Bread" or "Take me home"

Why not test music? "Play my Driving playlist"

You see, AAA wants Siri to fail, because it makes a great headline. If Siri turned out to be good, or even middle of the pack, Mac Rumors and everyone else wouldn't share this headline. It turns out if you attack the most successful company in the world, you get a lot of press.

And yeah, as someone else said, their recommendation is probably that you join AAA and use their paper Trip Tik maps, because those aren't at ALL distracting.

Thank you. Siri is intended for simple and effective tasks and it does wonders. I usually use Siri for directions or the nearest place i want to go to and it delivers 99% of the time with a simple one liner command ("take me home", go to the nearest Starbucks", etc). I also use it to send simple messages and to make handsfree calls and i tell you what, it works better, faster, and much safer than any other devices that car manufacters offers in their dashboard. This report is seriously biased.

 

[5232152]

"I'm sorry i didnt catch that"
... I can see why this might be an issue.

 

[greytmom]

You shouldn't be using your phone in the car period. This is why I got rid of my smartphone 3 years ago. I honk at people at stoplights about 60% of the time, because they're busy 'being safe' by updating facebook while stopped, while the light's been green for 5 seconds already.

I look forward to the day when cell phones are banned completely from cars.

No where in my post did I say I update FB while stopped. If I get a text while I am driving, I will glance at it when I stop. If it needs a reply, I do so with dictation.

Just curious - why did you have to get rid of the smart phone in order to prevent yourself from using it in the car?

 

[MattInOz]

No, don't use Siri.
Use an assistant more intuitive and advanced.

If your times seriously important enough and valuable enough that you can't concentrate on driving, then pay someone to drive you around.

 

[BB1970]

Say it with me...

SiriGate !

 

[bernuli]

I almost threw my phone out the window. But instead I disabled siri, and my phone frustration level dropped tremendously.

B

 

[caseyfriday]

Just curious - why did you have to get rid of the smart phone in order to prevent yourself from using it in the car?

I got rid of my smartphone (HTC Desire Z, at the time) because of how addictive mobile internet is. I get sick of seeing people staring at their phones like zombies, and I realized I was the same when out in public.

I heard plenty of, "Just use it less." That is similar to telling a crack addict - "Just don't do the blow in the closet right there, and you'll be fine." I am immensely more happy than I was when always glued to my smartphone screen.

 

[sreerajj]

May be they should have tested siri with iOS8

 

[swingerofbirch]

Siri is a bit inscrutable.

Why does it understand "mommy" but not "mama," which is what I call my mother?

Do you know what it's like to be in public and say "Call mommy" as a grown man?

 

[d4rkc4sm]

can confirm

using siri while driving is absolute ****. will result in distraction and death

 

[cargoplex]

I feel like Siri is a dung heap left behind by Forstall. It's really time for Apple to go back to the drawing board. Even the Google iOS app runs circles around it, which has got to be embarrassing. Here's hoping Apple can eventually make Siri a useable feature.

 

[JAT]

If you have people who sucks in your car, you're doing it wrong

I'd disagree. But, that would be an even greater distraction.

 

[cube]

I just can't gate it anymore.

 

[JAT]

It depends how representative the sampling is.

Making sure your 45 are truly representative of the average users in this case is a bit dubious.

It is very very hard to make a representative sampling of a system when how familiar you are with its use changes your interaction and the task you pick for your study have a very big impact on the results.

How much training the voice recognition machine has to your voice is also crucial to proper use.

Most problems in studies come from subject selection and the construction of the study / questionaire itself, which seems to be the case here too. Unless reading the study itself makes those limitations clear.

You seem to be assuming that the average iPhone user has done all this Siri prep and is an advanced user. Not true. A sampling should correlate to your overall population, not to merely advanced users.

 

[rdlink]

i turned off siri as soon as i took my phone out of its packaging.

its gimmicky garbage and we dont have the technology (yet) for it to actually be accurate and useful. Also dont want Apple recording and storing my voice

Thanks. Since you have declared that Siri isn't accurate or useful for me, contrary to my own experiences I will turn it off and never use it again. :roll eyes:

And your tin foil hat is in the mail...

 

[jettredmont]

Crap "study"

Which of these would you expect to cause more distraction:

* Just driving
* Adjusting radio with your hands
* Listening to messages over speakers
* Dictating messages into a microphone
* Updating Facebook/Twitter and checking calendar events

Take Siri out of the mix and the last one is obviously going to require more cognitive attention. Why not have them do the same without Siri and with Siri if they really think Siri is the problem here.

Studies using Siri and other hands-free systems to listen to and compose messages show a huge advantage over using your hands (but obviously more distraction than just driving). Studies also show that hands-free navigation as offered via Siri is significantly less distracting than paper maps or navigating unfamiliar territory by memory.

It's no surprise that AAA's pet cash cows are threatened by Siri, and so their "study" is rigged to make Siri look bad.

By all means, minimize distractions while driving. And even using hands-free systems is a distraction. But don't buy the rigged "study" saying hands-free is worse than the senses-intensive alternatives.

 

[donnaw]

It depends how representative the sampling is.

Making sure your 45 are truly representative of the average users in this case is a bit dubious.

It is very very hard to make a representative sampling of a system when how familiar you are with its use changes your interaction and the task you pick for your study have a very big impact on the results.

How much training the voice recognition machine has to your voice is also crucial to proper use.

Most problems in studies come from subject selection and the construction of the study / questionaire itself, which seems to be the case here too. Unless reading the study itself makes those limitations clear.

The type of study you're talking about would only pertain to people well-versed with the specific technology. This study was probably specifically tailored to an 'average' person. You know the type, they 'think' they know how to use the device but really don't. In the case of Siri, they may well be pretty competent with it while sitting, even walking, but driving is a different matter.

Studies like this are devised to test just the average Joe. Completely different.

 

[mdelvecchio]

i turned off siri as soon as i took my phone out of its packaging.

its gimmicky garbage and we dont have the technology (yet) for it to actually be accurate and useful. Also dont want Apple recording and storing my voice

perhaps you mumble.

for me, siri works great. it's perfect for short messages, reminders, calendar appointments, driving directions, and fact-based inquiries. we use it many times a week.

 

[Ultrarider]

Siri is terrible I hate it sitting in my house in my recliner.

 

[Parasprite]

It depends how representative the sampling is.

Making sure your 45 are truly representative of the average users in this case is a bit dubious.

The type of study you're talking about would only pertain to people well-versed with the specific technology. This study was probably specifically tailored to an 'average' person. You know the type, they 'think' they know how to use the device but really don't. In the case of Siri, they may well be pretty competent with it while sitting, even walking, but driving is a different matter.

Studies like this are devised to test just the average Joe. Completely different.

Considering all 45 are from the University of Utah...

 

[mdelvecchio]

What about including having a conversation with another human in the car? I can't see Siri interaction being much more demanding...

it is. as is a phone conversation. why? cognitive load is higher -- our brains were designed to communicate with a person face to face and take in many visual indicators -- read the recipient's body, scan the face for instant feedback to our message, evaluate and adjust, etc. by not being able to see the person we're lacking data and it causes us to have to work harder at evaluating the efficiency of the message. this is a real thing and not new study.

operating menus is different, but similar -- it's not just talking, it's mentally working thru an abstract process or workflow, with no visual indicators of effectiveness.

----------

agreed that cognitive load is higher when trying to do somewhat complex tasks like posting to Facebook or twitter, or composing an email, than it is for adjusting the radio.

best thing to do is not do that stuff. short texts, driving directions...thats about it. anything else is asking for trouble.

 

[Parasprite]

I got rid of my smartphone (HTC Desire Z, at the time) because of how addictive mobile internet is. I get sick of seeing people staring at their phones like zombies, and I realized I was the same when out in public.

I heard plenty of, "Just use it less." That is similar to telling a crack addict - "Just don't do the blow in the closet right there, and you'll be fine." I am immensely more happy than I was when always glued to my smartphone screen.

Yeah, it's kind of pathetic really.

I'm much happier with my iPad now anyways.

 

[doctor-don]

How is it any different than having a conversation with someone that's in the car?

The difference is that anyone in the car KNOWS that the driver has to attend to other duties and responsibilities in order to DRIVE safely. Siri 'assumes' the driver is in need of more assistance, more talking, more questioning, and that's distracting.

The same can be said of someone on the other end of a phone call, regardless of whether that conversation involves using one's hand to hold the phone or using any of the available hands free devices.

Distracted driving is distracted driving.