Title: CRASINS: an improved method for urgency scaling within and across modalities

Authors: Bridget A. Lewis; Daniel M. Roberts; Carryl L. Baldwin

Addresses: Department of Psychology, George Mason University, MS3-F5 4400 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA ' Department of Psychology, George Mason University, MS3-F5 4400 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA ' Department of Psychology, George Mason University, MS3-F5 4400 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA

Abstract: Technological advances allow presentation of more information (e.g. alerts, warnings) than operators can process. Effective management of this information requires designing displays and warnings that scale the perceived urgency of the signal to the hazard level it represents. We reviewed existing methods of scaling and propose that determining a user-defined range of acceptable intensities prior to implementing the scaling (the CRASINS method) is most effective. Here, we used the CRASINS method to develop urgency and annoyance scales for visual, auditory, and tactile signals. Parameters examined included interpulse interval (IPI) and pulse duration in the auditory and tactile modalities as well as frequency for auditory and colour for visual stimuli. The greatest range of urgency was obtained with the auditory modality, while visual stimuli result in the lowest levels of annoyance. Manipulations of IPI yielded good utility in all modalities with the highest utility being observed for changes in colour.

Keywords: urgency scales; annoyance scales; auditory signals; visual signals; tactile signals; driver-vehicle interface; in-vehicle alerts; magnitude estimation; multimodal displays; psychophysics; CRASINS; scaling; urgency mapping; utility; warning systems; interpulse interval; IPI; pulse duration; colour; ergonomics; human factors.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFE.2016.082247

International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2016 Vol.4 No.2, pp.126 - 143

Received: 24 Feb 2016
Accepted: 19 Sep 2016
Published online: 13 Feb 2017 *

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