Designing Augmented Reality for Cyclists: How Text-Based Notification Placements Influence Attentional Tunneling and Cycling Experience

Cycling has gained popularity due to growing interest in healthy and sustainable lifestyles. Simultaneously, Augmented Reality (AR) Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs) can assist cyclists by presenting notifications within their field of view without diverting their attention to external devices. While previous studies have investigated these advantages, safety concerns have primarily limited them to lab settings, creating a notable gap in understanding their real-world feasibility. We conducted a user study with 20 participants on a shared-use outdoor path and explored the impact of text-based HMD notification placement (top, right, bottom), on attentional tunneling and cyclists' experiences. Our results suggested that while the bottom placement received higher scores for perceived safety and noticeability, HMD notifications induced attentional tunneling, regardless of placement. We discuss our findings and present design insights for future HMD systems aimed at enhancing cyclists' safety and experience.