Exploring Direct and Indirect On-the-Go Input Methods while Cycling Outdoors

The increasing digitalization of mobility turns bicycles into networked information platforms. However, applications such as navigation, music control, and fitness tracking require interactions that can distract attention from traffic while riding. In this work, we investigate four input methods: (1) direct touch on a centrally mounted tablet, (2) an analogue joystick, (3) tactile buttons, and (4) an indirect touch display on the handlebars. We evaluated them in terms of efficiency, accuracy, distraction, and user experience in an outdoor experiment (N = 24), in which participants had to select targets on three layouts (vertical, horizontal, and two-dimensional). The results show that although direct touch provided the fastest task completion time, it required more intentional eye movements and the loss of two-handed steering control. Haptic-based input methods, such as tactile buttons, resulted in slightly longer task completion times but lower error rates, a greater perception of safety, and better user acceptance. The eye-tracking data show a tendency for visual strain to be proportionally lower with haptic inputs, despite longer interaction times.