Interface sharpness distraction mitigation method and system

A driver monitor system for optimizing use of cognitive resources of a user in a vehicle, the system comprising:

• at least one in-cabin video camera;
• a dashboard-mounted display device;
• and
• processing circuitry configured to:
• monitor eye gaze direction using images from the at least one in-cabin video camera,
• gradually soften image regions and lines displayed in the display device that are outside a first peripheral view of the user of the vehicle,
• use the eye gaze direction to predict whether the user is transitioning into a new focus vision area that had been outside the first peripheral view,
• when the user's eyes begin to move, begin sharpening softened image regions and lines such that by the time eyes have shifted into the new focus vision area, the image regions and lines in the new focus vision area reach full sharpness, and
• display increasing levels of softening of image regions and lines displayed in the display device as the distance increases away from the first peripheral view, wherein the gradually softening is by gradually adjusting color intensity of inner pixels based on an average color intensity of a relatively large pixel radius, next further pixels away from the inner pixels based on a slightly smaller pixel radius, down to final edge pixels based on a smallest pixel radius,
• wherein the peripheral view is a peripheral view of each eye of 15 degrees, and
• wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to display increasing levels of softening of image regions and lines displayed in the display device as the distance increases away from the peripheral view of 15 degrees.