A Nesta programme which brought together researchers to share ideas and work has lead to the publication of new research on the risks surrounding satellite navigation systems.
Researchers from Lancaster University and Royal Holloway, University of London, found that the use of Sat Nav systems while driving can impair drivers' concentration, prompting a tendency to drive faster with more steering variations.
Dr Pragya Agarwal and Dr Polly Dalton developed the research concept after collaborating on the Crucible programme back in 2007.
Dr Agarwal said: "The results from our research have implications for the way these systems can be designed to be more effective and user-friendly in the future. Our research shows how people's behaviour while driving is influenced by the use of these navigational systems, which are becoming increasingly ubiquitous.
"It is, therefore, important that we gain a more complete understanding of what specific decisions people make while using these systems, and which factors influence driving safety and behaviour, and to what extent."
The Crucible programme began as a series of residential workshops run by Nesta to help researchers, who face demanding challenges in their own fields, to network and look to solve more complex challenges across several disciplines.
Although it has now closed, all of the learnings from our Crucible programme, as well as guidance on running your own networking programme, can be found here.
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