Research indicates that animated alerts can assist distracted drivers in identifying hazards more consistently.

      Researchers at the University of Glasgow experimented with augmented reality (AR) glasses that featured an animated robot avatar and discovered it assisted distracted drivers in identifying road hazards almost as effectively as those who were fully attentive.

      Self-driving cars face a continuous challenge. When a driver's focus shifts to a phone or laptop, how can you quickly redirect their attention back to the road to spot potential dangers? A recent study from the University of Glasgow indicates the solution might not be another alert or blinking light, but rather a small animated figure that resembles a person pointing out the danger.

      Enhancing the alert improved attentiveness

      The research, led by PhD candidate Thomas Goodge, involved testing this concept using AR glasses on 48 participants in a driving simulator. Participants engaged in a mixed-reality game while dashcam footage of actual driving situations was displayed, simulating a driver engrossed in emails or games. A warning appeared just before a hazard was shown in the video, and the researchers inquired what the drivers observed.

      In the initial phase, distracted participants overlooked hazards significantly more often than a control group that viewed the footage without the game, irrespective of whether the warning was a colored bar or an animated robot head pointing towards the danger. However, the introduction of an additional cue—a red highlight alongside the colored bar or head turning—completely bridged that gap. Both warning methods enabled distracted drivers to accurately identify hazards approximately 80 percent of the time, matching the performance of participants who were not distracted.

      Excessive personality had negative effects

      However, the robot's effectiveness had its limits. When researchers equipped it with visible signs of stress, such as shaking and sweating, participants became sidetracked trying to interpret its emotional cues, resulting in them missing more hazards. Professor Stephen Brewster, a co-author of the study, also noted a more subtle issue. Some drivers relied solely on the warnings instead of keeping their eyes on the road, mirroring the over-reliance observed in systems like Cadillac's Super Cruise, which monitors driver attention and pulls the vehicle over if no response is detected.

      The researchers plan to incorporate sound and dialogue in the next phase to assess how drivers react to a warning system that communicates with them.

      Pranob is an experienced tech journalist with over eight years of experience in consumer technology coverage.

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      The absent $20,000 EV: Understanding why small, affordable electric cars don't succeed in North America

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      MG has unveiled the MG 07 electric sedan, starting at under $16,000, signaling that U.S. choices remain lacking.

      At the 2026 Chengdu Auto Show, SAIC's MG brand officially launched the MG 07, a mid-size sedan with pricing that may genuinely surprise consumers. According to CarNewsChina, the vehicle is available in seven configurations, with prices ranging from 108,900 yuan to 159,900 yuan, or approximately $16,000 to $23,500, making it one of the most budget-friendly electric vehicles. It features a surprisingly upscale design for a sedan priced at $16,000.