Programme
10:00: Welcome and introductory address:
Professor Andree Woodcock, Director of Centre of Excellence in Product and Automotive Design
Session 1: HMI in vehicles and driver interaction
10.15- 10.30: Literature Review to fuel tactile, show/hide sensorial design principles. Shaun Hutchinson, Lecturer, Coventry University
Today automotive in-car interface designs for interior control systems demand more visual attention than ever before. To potentially lessen a driver’s need to look at the control systems while driving, and keep eye contact on the road where they should be, it would seem sensible to look towards other remaining senses and question how they can be utilised in new designs.
Professor Andree Woodcock, Director of Centre of Excellence in Product and Automotive DesignLiterature Review to fuel tactile, show/hide sensorial design principles. Shaun Hutchinson, Lecturer, Coventry UniversityToday automotive in-car interface designs for interior control systems demand more visual attention than ever before. To potentially lessen a driver’s need to look at the control systems while driving, and keep eye contact on the road where they should be, it would seem sensible to look towards other remaining senses and question how they can be utilised in new designs.
A lack of knowledge in this area has been identified so this paper reviews ‘back to basics’ psychological and experimental literature concerning haptics (the sense of touch and movement) and object manipulation, with and without vision. Specifically targeted is literature that has the potential to inform a set of fundamental sensorial design principles that ultimately would underpin new automotive interior interface designs.
10.30-10:55: Driver fatigue and the vehicle control interface. Peter Barker, Principle Lecturer Product Design, Coventry University
It is assumed that the relationship between a vehicle control interface (VCI) and the vehicle’s driver alters as that driver becomes fatigued. Using long distance rally driving as its context, this study based upon the analysis of in-car video recordings, investigates the changes in driver movement patterns over many hours at the wheel and draws conclusions as to the changing relationship between driver and VCI. In a rally car there is the additional factor of a co-driver from whom the driver receives instructions as to the vehicle’s required direction and speed.
Video capture reveals that as time at the wheel accumulates and the driver becomes fatigued essential actions are increasingly prioritised over inessential actions. Fewer movements of the driver’s head and limbs are evident as fatigue builds up. Eventually only the essential actions needed to keep the vehicle on course are undertaken by the driver. In a rally driving situation where driver and co-driver are both trained and experienced this prioritisation can result in the enhancing of concentration and an improvement in competitive result. The study offers reinforcing evidence for the location and prioritisation of major and minor items within the VCI.
10.55 – 11.20: Navigating through the interaction design agenda. Peter Atkinson, Senior Lecturer, Coventry University and Ana Vadillo, Interaction Designer
Using examples of GPS based navigational devices and elsewhere in the Automotive industry, the case is presented for linking the Interaction Design process more closely with the physical design of automotive interfaces. User testing is a core requirement for successful designs and working with paper prototypes is a cost-effective and rapid implementation of user testing as part of the Interaction Design process. The history and design philosophy behind navigational products will be chronicled, and the challenges of developing user interfaces that communicate relevant navigational information to the driver will be discussed.
11.20– 11.45: The coach driver environment and the effect on driver stress and distraction, Slobodan Topalovic, PhD student, Coventry University
Occupational driving, such as coach driving, requires sustained attention in complex tasks and detection of changes in the task environment in order to search for potential hazards (Dorn and Taylor, 2003) for the continuation of safe driving. Stress is a causal factor in the reduction for the search of potential hazards as it can affect driver concentration, which could lead to increased accident risk. Driver stress results from a continual interaction of factors intrinsic and extrinsic to driving that exceeds a person’s ability to cope with them.
This area of research is very much in its infancy and is badly understood. A key factor that has not been explored is whether the design of the driver workstation and coach could be used to reduce driver stress and distraction and improve safety by increasing concentration levels. The aim of this study is to undertake a naturalistic study, using heart monitoring, a survey and filming with coach drivers to understand their problems and ultimately reduce future accident risk.
11.45 – 12.10: Ergonomics with knobs on, Elaine Mackie, Senior Lecturer, Coventry University and Pete Atkinson, Senior Lecturer, Coventry University
This paper describes the range of research methods from direct observation to user testing that were employed by final year Industrial Product Design students studying at Coventry University undertaking a group project. Students were required to interpret an open brief set by an industry partner in order to design a gear knob for a production car with a strong appeal to young people.
Each student group took a different approach to refining the design brief but with the overall aim to create a greater emotional attachment between the car and its driver thereby facilitating a distinctive driving experience. Teams created realisable designs suitable for production using existing technologies, methods of manufacture and materials.
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch at Technocentre (included)
Session 3: Older drivers
1.30-1.55: Keeping older drivers on the road safely, Simon Edwards, Senior Research Associate in Transport, Newcastle University.
Abstract: Driving plays an important and essential role in maintaining older people’s mobility and independent living, enabling them to participate in their usual social activities and carry out practical day-to-day needs. Having to give up driving can lead to reduced mobility, lack of freedom, loss of independence, unmet social needs, lower quality of life and eventually depression and isolation. This presentation explores the effects on driving ability due to age-related functional decline from the point of view of both older people themselves and certain bodies including the police, the DVLA, the AA etc., and the possible role of in-vehicle systems to help them overcome some of the driving difficulties.
Session 3: Vehicle Interiors
1.55-2.20: Mixing fashion trends with functionality, Nick Hull, Senior Lecturer, Coventry University
- Analysing the architecture of interiors
- Consistency in cockpit material, form and colour
- Use of modern materials in cockpit systems
- Authentic and sensual textiles
Session 4: Public Transport
2.20 – 2.45; The problems and paradoxes of inclusive design in public transport, Richard Herriott PhD student, Coventry University and Cherie Lebon, Associate Senior Lecturer, Coventry University
Much of the emphasis in Inclusive Design has been placed on consumer products and services. The literature contains numerous examples of products such as mobile telephones, kitchen equipment, and passenger cars along with services designed for the broader average. Absent from this catalogue of examples is the large arena of public transportation, specifically the non-architectural elements. This paper examines the conditions existing for the application of inclusive design in the area of public transportation.
2.45- 3.10: Evaluation of the park and ride electric bus at stratford, Andree Woodcock, Director of Centre of Excellence in Product and Automotive Design, Coventry University
The aim of the study was to inform the decision to operate an electric Park and Ride fleet through ascertaining the opinions of different stakeholders towards traffic problems and the use of electric-buses in Stratford and to discover any potential usability problems with the proposed buses.The attitude of different stakeholder groups towards the different transport solutions was measured. This showed that an extended Park and Ride service was seen as a possible solution. Although highly praised by all respondents, the current Park and Ride service was felt in need of extension - in terms of its hours of operation, routes and a second terminus.
The electric bus which operated on the Park and Ride route during the week was rated favourably by all the passengers in term of its design, comfort and acoustics. Drivers felt that it was the ‘future of the fleet’. The introduction of electric buses was also rated favourably by members of the public as this could help reduce the levels of noise and pollution within the city.
Session 5: Electric Vehicles
3.10 -3.35: A Survey of HMI issues in electric vehicles Jackie Binnersley, Research Assistant, Coventry University
The task involved using the existing data to understand the current state of the human-machine interface in low carbon vehicles, how people use them and the issues they have. In order to meet the objectives, three sources of data were analysed: blogs from drivers of low carbon vehicles, news articles on low carbon vehicles that mention human-machine interface issues and reviews of low carbon vehicle road tests and published research from trials.
The most serious concern for inexperienced drivers was whether their vehicle would complete journeys before needing to be recharged. Experienced drivers tended to adjust their behaviour to manage the car’s range and requirements for frequent recharging. Reliable feedback about range and charging status reduce the anxiety and helped drivers to adapt their behaviour. The results suggested that some drivers would appreciate this feedback by remote means such as via a mobile phone alert.
3.35 -4.00: The design and development of the microcab, H2EV. John Jostins, Professor of Sustainable Transport Design, Coventry University
Following a number of years of work on prototype light zero emissions vehicles using hydrogen fuel cell electric drive, 2009-10 saw the design of the latest iteration, the H2EV. Design and engineering work was completed with the aid of a Niche Vehicle Network grant and partnership with Delta Motorsport, RDM Ltd., Penso Consulting, Lotus Lightweight Structures, Advanced Composites Group and EPL. This vehicle format is based on the previous Microcab H4 which has been running on trial at University of Birmingham, although virtually everything has been changed, from the styling, chassis, fuel cell, drive train etc.
As with previous designs, a very light structure is married to a zero emissions drive train to maximise efficiency. The vehicle has been designed to run on hydrogen gas or with a plug in EV drivetrain so that the vehicle can be used where there is no hydrogen presently. This fits with the Government’s strategy of rolling out EVs and providing the beginnings of a plug in recharge infrastructure. As hydrogen fuel infrastructure grows vehicles could be retrofitted with fuel cells if desired.
As with previous Microcabs, the modular approach allows light van, four seat car and compact taxi body variants. A flat floor and good side access allows good ingress for all, including wheelchair bound passengers in the case of the taxi.
The first 8 of these vehicles will appear in the Government’s UK wide Low Carbon Vehicle Trials, in the West Midlands section, CABLED. A dedicated hydrogen filling station has been installed at Coventry University for the vehicles. They will be the only hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the 340 vehicle fleet across the UK. Ordinary users will run the vehicles during 2011 and data will be gathered about a range of commuter and general domestic duty activities and movements.