Multimedia systems, GPS navigation, entertainment, and communication (infotainment) have become increasingly popular in passenger cars. On the one hand, these systems offer a desirable amount of comfort and convenience, but, on the other hand, the representation of information on displays and the navigation through these virtual worlds leads to an increased driver distraction within a constantly changing environment which could be dangerous for traffic participants. On this account, a careful Human-Machine-Interaction (HMI) design becomes a fundamental issue. Designing car interior systems is challenging for styling- and cognitive-engineering teams. The purpose of this study was to use a problem driven cognitive approach in order to discover design alternatives for HMI in automobiles.
The research included observational and experimental techniques. A HMI market analysis using three car concepts in production was conducted. Furthermore, a small observational study was undertaken in which the human perception of 2D vs. 3D was explored, showing how eight individuals created a device to control interactive functions. A staged study in a real world environment as a natural laboratory experiment aimed to explore the driver's 'Re-orienting Costs' during driving while interacting with HMI. Literature research and theoretical models from the fields of Human Factors, especially in Cognitive Science, with the focus on information overload, attention capture and attention
management, helped to define design constraints. Technological and styling trends completed the area of secondary research methods and depict the frame to chart the
design space for an alternative cockpit concept which responds to the challenges that were
identified in the previous research studies.
As a result, I have envisioned a tangible HMI concept for automobiles that considers the findings from my primary and secondary research. This study attempts to simplify menu navigation in cars through instant function accessibility, in addition to improving; spatial mapping of information, spatial mapping of interaction and eye fixation time. For hypothesis testing and evaluation, an 'infotainment' software prototype with exemplary functions for secondary tasks was created and sample observations in a real world environment were undertaken. Results indicate remarkable reduction of "Re-Orientation-Costs". Furthermore, these research findings can be transferred into related event driven domains - giving support to problem holders with strategic tasks to synchronize and coordinate tactical workloads, while navigating through real or virtual world environments.