JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Hypoglycemia is a frequent and acute complication in type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and is associated with a higher risk of car mishaps. Currently, hypoglycemia can be detected and signaled through flash glucose monitoring (FGM) or continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices. These devices, however, require manual and visual interaction, removing the focus of attention from the driving task. Hypoglycemia is known to cause a decrease in attention, challenging the safety of using such devices behind the wheel. Here, we present an investigation of hands- and distraction-free technology: an in–vehicle voice–assistant–based warning.

Objective:

Designing and assessing a voice–assistant–based health warning for hypoglycemia while driving and addressing the limitations of the current warning solutions.

Methods:

We developed and assessed the warning in three studies, where participants received the warning while driving. In all studies, we measured participants’ self-reported technology readiness, perception of the warning, and compliance behavior (whether they stopped the car and their reaction time), and assessed any room for improvement through participants’ feedback. In Study 0, 10 healthy participants drove in a simulator and assessed the feasibility of using a voice assistant to deliver a warning. In Study 1, 18 participants with T1DM drove in a simulator and assessed the revised version of the warning. In Study 2, 20 participants with T1DM undergoing hypoglycemia assessed a further revised version of the warning while driving in a real car on a test track. In all studies, we also measured self-reported technology readiness, and acceptance of the warning, and assessed compliance behavior and reaction time in response to the warning.

Results:

In all studies, 100% of participants complied with the warning. In Study 0, healthy participants perceived the warning as usable and useful, and their feedback suggested reducing speech rate and increasing driver-assistant interaction. In Study 1, participants with T1DM reported good perception and their feedback suggested the warning to be less instructive. In Study 2, we observed moderate perception (lower than in Study 1), and participants’ feedback revealed the warning was too overloading.

Conclusions:

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study investigating the feasibility of an in–vehicle voice–assistant–based warning for hypoglycemia while driving. Drivers find such an implementation useful and effective, although individuals with T1DM preferred a simple and direct voice warning, rather than a conversational one. This may reflect the utility and unfamiliarity of proactive behavior in voice assistants. We anticipate this research to be a starting point for the combination of driver-state warnings and for voice–assistant–based health support, and to be a guide for the design of such a combination. Clinical Trial: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04035993, NCT04569630