Exploring Factors that Influence Connected Drivers to (Not) Use or Follow Recommended Optimal Routes
ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Proceedings (CHI), 2019 Acceptance Rate: 23.8%
A sample trip from our data collection with instances of the driver deviating from the recommended route shown by the application. Here, the first deviation was made at the beginning of the trip where the driver opted to choose a route that will get him directly to the main road, and not the recommendation which is circuity and perceived as unnecessary. The second deviation was made at a fork on the expressway. Instead of following the recommended route that will take him farther from the destination, he chose his regular route despite the application indicating that there is heavy traffic.
Abstract
Navigation applications are becoming ubiquitous in our daily navigation experiences. With the intention to circumnavigate congested roads, their route guidance always follows the basic assumption that drivers always want the fastest route. However, it is unclear how their recommendations are followed and what factors affect their adoption. We present the results of a semi-structured qualitative study with 17 drivers, mostly from the Philippines and Japan. We recorded their daily commutes and occasional trips, and inquired into their navigation practices, route choices and on-the-fly decision-making. We found that while drivers choose a recommended route in urgent situations, many still preferred to follow familiar routes. Drivers deviated because of a recommendation's use of unfamiliar roads, lack of local context, perceived driving unsuitability, and inconsistencies with realized navigation experiences. Our findings and implications emphasize their personalization needs, and how the right amount of algorithmic sophistication can encourage behavioral adaptation.
Materials
Open Access ACM arXiv Preprint DOI