How Do Different Vehicle Interior Concepts Influence Work and Entertainment Experience During Automated Driving?

Abstract

The goal of the research project RUMBA, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, is to redesign the user experience for occupants during a highly automated drive (SAE level 4 [1]) by developing innovative interior and interaction concepts. As part of the second iteration of the user-centered, iterative development process, a laboratory study is conducted. It aims to evaluate a simulated prototype of an innovative vehicle interior concept for work and entertainment during automated driving as well as to identify design suggestions for its further development. The vehicle interior concept to be evaluated is compared with a classic vehicle interior in an experimental research setting. Test subjects experience the two vehicle interior prototypes during two simulated automated test drives of approximately 15 min each. In the first ride, one subject performs work tasks while the other watches a movie; in the second ride vice versa. Besides others, user experience, system trust, and subjective road safety of the occupants are measured. Data collection for the study is completed by the end of March 2023. Therefore, this short paper focuses on the method and does not yet include results. The HCII conference poster in July 2023 reports both, the methodology and the results of the evaluation study.