The influence of tactile feedback in In-vehicle central control interfaces on driver emotions: A comparative study of touchscreens and physical buttons

Touchscreen in-vehicle central control interfaces are rapidly replacing traditional physical buttons. However, the differences in the effects of tactile feedback between touchscreens and physical buttons on driver emotions are unclear. This study used a simulated driving experiment to investigate the effects of tactile feedback mode and intensity on driver emotion using the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM). The results showed that tactile feedback mode, intensity, and difficulty of non-driving-related tasks (NDRTs) significantly affected drivers' emotional states. Touchscreen tactile feedback elicited a more positive emotional state than physical button tactile feedback. The intensity of touchscreen tactile feedback is positively correlated with driver emotional valence. However, higher-intensity physical button feedback decreases driver emotional valence, particularly when drivers are engaged in complex NDRTs, and the difference due to feedback intensity is insignificant. The study's results could help automakers intervene by designing tactile feedback to enhance the emotional experience of the driver's in-vehicle interaction interface.