Over the last decade, automakers have wedged touchscreens into the cabin of nearly every vehicle coming off the line. But a screen backlash has taken hold. Concerns about the safety of operating touchscreen controls while driving have been reflected in changes to safety ratings rules by organizations such as Euro NCAP and ANCAP. Automakers will lose points on safety evaluations for using touchscreens instead of physical controls for some critical driving functions. Drivers who also are widely disillusioned with the all-glass cockpit also seem ready to re-embrace physical controls in the human-machine interface (HMI). Still, touchscreens in the vehicle are unlikely to disappear altogether. Taking a human factors perspective, this workshop will explore the empirical evidence regarding the effects of using touchscreens versus physical controls for the in-vehicle HMI. We will learn what the research can tell us about when, where, and how to use physical controls, touchscreens, or voice control to promote safety, usability, acceptance, and enjoyment for drivers as they engage with the incabin HMI.
By engineers, for engineers: A technically grounded guide to the rapidly evolving in-cabin technology industry and companies.
