Project

Traditionally, usability and safety has been the main focus when designing and evaluating in-car interfaces. However, these factors are not enough for competitiveness in the 21st century. This project seeks to improve the automotive industry’s capability of designing user interfaces with a high level of positive customer satisfaction by providing metrics and methods for automotive HMI (Human Machine Interaction/Interface) User Experience (UX). A comparison can be made to the mobile industry where the Iphone set a shift of UX paradigm; the competitive advantage was the user interface, not the phone's technical features. The affective aspects of interfaces in the automotive industry need to be researched. There is a high development pace of new systems, i.e. active safety systems and connected services, which require understandable and pleasurable interfaces. By providing an HMI with a pleasurable and supporting User Experience, the aim is that the driver will improve performance in terms of safe and greener driving as well as a strong brand loyalty and high overall satisfaction with the product. Happier drivers have also shown to be less accident prone and display a less risky and aggressive driving behavior. Automotive UX methodology will be developed/refined and used for: Defining UX goals and metrics; Defining methodology for UX test loops of concepts with appropriate customers/stakeholders in appropriate test sites (desktop, simulator, field, etc).