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In 2006, a team of graduate students (myself, Ricardo Prada and Mohammed Rahman) proposed a novel automotive interface - a digital dashboard able to shift “modes” depending on user preference and task requirements. This multimodal dashboard was based on a simple concept- the needs of user groups are so varied that one hardware configuration will not be able to optimize the environment for everyone in a particular user group. By digitizing elements of the automotive display, a single automobile interface could generalize to a variety of scenarios and users.

Our digital multimodal automotive interface was one of three projects recognized with an Ex Aequo Award - an International Award in Design, Engineering and Innovation in the Field of Human Factors. The Broadside produced a story on the design and award, and Italdesign-Guigaro featured the design and award on their website.

For more information, download a copy of the design poster here.

The Design: A Multimodal Automotive Interface

The multi-modal dashboard was designed to adaptively alleviate cognitive workload. By optimizing the information presented to the driver dependent on the scenario or task the driver is engaging in, this interface can maximize performance while minimizing driver demands. By isolating and identifying the core components of the driving task, the display can emphasize those information elements most relevant to optimal driving performance and de-emphasize those items which distract from the task at hand. This is based in the concept of cognitive workload managers - systems that retrieve cues out of the overall driving context (environmental variables) and driver analysis (e.g. driver identification, reaction-time measurement, etc.) to estimate and adapt to the current context.

One possible approach is the use of digital displays to alter this information as required by the user. By using multiple modes, the driver to specify the configuration of the interior and the resultant interface. The multimodal driving/racing interface shown below is the design team’s attempt to merge future concepts with the state of the art in human factors engineering to create a user-centered display capable of supporting multiple goal states across varied scenarios. The end result is an interface that cooperates with the user, adapting to tasks as needed while minimizing interference from peripheral information sources. To demonstrate how this display could be designed, a single interface was created to support two very different activities: everyday commuting & high performance racing.

Display to Support Commuting

Display to Support Racing

The Design Process

Undertaking a complex system design is a challenging process that requires designers to not only provide specifications and recommendations for general system functioning, but are also able to identify opportunities for improvements that might be of high utility to the user. To do this, however, the designer must have an accurate and robust view of all aspects of the system environment – from the needs of various user groups to the limitations of the current system. This information can then be used to define the problem space in which the highest value solution could be proposed. To accomplish this goal, the design team developed a hybrid design process that leveraged multiple methodologies from system engineering, human-computer interaction, cognitive psychology and social psychology to create the design concept above. This design process is separated into three distinct stages: analysis, design concept, and prototyping. An example of the analysis is included below.

Publications

Smith, C.F., Prada, L.R. & Rahman, M.T. (2006). Designing a multimodal automotive interface. Unpublished manuscript submitted in consideration of the International Award in Design, Engineering and Innovation in the Field of Human Factors.

Posters

Smith, C.F. (2006). Using Task Analysis to Inform Storyboarding: Leveraging Tasks in the Design Space. Poster Presented at World Usability Day New England 2006, Putney, VT. November 14, 2006.

Awards

Designing a multimodal automotive interface. International Award in Design, Engineering and Innovation in the Field of Human Factors - Ex Aequo Award. 2500 Euro. (May 2006) Smith, C.F., Prada, L.P., Rahman, M.T.

Media Appearances

Mora, E. (2007) A winning display. George Mason University Broadside Online. Retrieved March 20, 2007, from http://www.broadsideonline.com/02-05-2007/News/mora.htm

Italdesign (2006). Italdesign International Award in Design, Engineering, and Innovation in the field of Automotive Human Factors promoted jointly by… Retrieved April 24, 2007, from http://www.italdesign.it/dinamic/pressandvideo/article.php?id=51