Retrospective and Future Automotive Infotainment Systems—100 Years of User Interface Evolution

Designing an Intuitive Driving Experience in a Digital World

“…The automotive industry has been in existence for over a century, and as described earlier, the technologies of the day have always influenced and even driven the evolution of the in-vehicle user experience [1]. The current industry automation trend has been enabled by sensor and computing technologies first deployed for Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS), and the digitalization trend has been enabled by LCDs, touch screens and surfaces, and nearly ubiquitous connectivity.…”

“…The familiar steering wheel, gear shift, and gas and brake pedals controlled the vehicle motion, and various shapes, and sizes of mechanical, and later electro-mechanical, controls dominated the in-vehicle user interface. Even into the 1990's, the in-vehicle user experience was primarily focused on the driving task, and the user interface was limited to displaying vehicle status and providing limited audio entertainment [1]. However, as we approach the 135th anniversary of Karl Friedrich Benz's first automobile, the automotive industry finds itself on the precipice of change.…”

“…These trends are not surprising. New in-vehicle features and functionality have always mirrored the evolution of consumer technologies found outside the vehicle [1]. Automotive radio was introduced in 1922 [1], mainstream car phone service was introduced in 1982 [1], and even the first in-vehicle CRT (cathode-ray tube) touchscreen dates back to the 1986 Buick Riviera [6].…”

“…New in-vehicle features and functionality have always mirrored the evolution of consumer technologies found outside the vehicle [1]. Automotive radio was introduced in 1922 [1], mainstream car phone service was introduced in 1982 [1], and even the first in-vehicle CRT (cathode-ray tube) touchscreen dates back to the 1986 Buick Riviera [6]. In-vehicle entertainment systems have progressed from radio, to cassette, to CDs, to digital media players, and navigation systems date back to 1994 in Europe on the BMW 7 Series [7] and 1995 in the U.S. with the Oldsmobile GuideStar system [8].…”

Behavioural validity of driving simulators for prototype HMI evaluation

“…However, drivers often engage in parallel, non-driving related tasks concurrently to driving. Since drivers are nowadays used to having certain functionalities available while operating their vehicle, from in-vehicle sound systems to hands-free phone access and internet connectivity [5], those tasks are more often than not associated with an in-vehicle interface. Although in-vehicle interfaces can be useful for a range of activities, related to the primary driving task in different degrees, the work presented here revolves around those that provide information and entertainment functionalities to the driver and are, thus, not directly related to the primary driving task.…”