Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
TYPES OF IN-CAR
COMPUTING SYSTEM
is increasingly implemented within road-going
vehicles. The functions of an in-car computing
system can be broad, supporting tasks as diverse
as navigation, lane keeping, collision avoidance
and parking. Ultimately, by implementing such
systems car manufacturers aim to improve the
safety, efficiency and comfort/entertainment of
the driving experience (Bishop, 2005)
Designing the user-interface for in-car comput-
ing systems raises many novel challenges, quite
unlike those traditionally associated with interface
design. For instance, in many situations, the use of
an in-car system is secondary to the complex and
already demanding primary task of safely control-
ling a vehicle, whilst simultaneously maintaining
an awareness of hazards, largely using the visual
sense. Consequently, the level of workload (physi-
cal, visual and mental) when using displays and
controls becomes a critical safety-related factor.
As a further example, in-car computing systems
have to be used by a driver (and possible also, a
passenger) who is sat in a constrained posture and
is unlikely to be able to undertake a two handed
operation. Therefore, the design (location, type,
size, etc.) of input devices has to be carefully
considered, accounting in particular for comfort,
as well as safety, requirements.
This article aims primarily to provide the reader
with an overall awareness of novel in-car comput-
ing systems and the key HCI design and evaluation
issues. The focus is on the user-interface, that is,
“the means by which the system reveals itself
to the users and behaves in relation to the users'
needs” (Hackos and Redish, 1998, p.5). Topics
of relevance to both researchers and practitioners
are raised throughout. Given the complexity of
the driving task and the wide range of computing
systems of relevance, the article principally pro-
vides breadth in its consideration of the subject.
Nevertheless, some depth is explored in a case
study investigation on the design and evaluation
of user-interfaces for vehicle navigation systems.
Technology is increasingly being seen to have
a critical role to play in alleviating the negative
aspects of road transport, such as congestion, pol-
lution and road traffic accidents (Bishop, 2005).
Many technological initiatives are considered
under the umbrella term, Intelligent Transport
Systems (ITS), where “ITS provides the intel-
ligent link between travellers, vehicles, and in-
frastructure” (www.itsa.org, September, 2006).
In this respect, in-vehicle computing systems are
an important facet of ITS. Specifically, there are
two core types of computing and communications
systems which are either being implemented or
developed for use in vehicles:
•
Information-based systems:
which pro-
vide information relevant to components
of the driving environment, the vehicle or
the driver. Examples of systems include
navigation (facilitating route planning and
following), travel and traffic information
(traffic conditions, car parking availabil-
ity, etc.), vision enhancement (providing
an enhanced view of the road ahead, when
driving at night, in fog or in heavy rain),
driver alertness monitoring (informing
the incapacitated driver if they are unfit to
drive) and collision warnings (presenting
warnings/advice regarding hazards).
•
Control-based systems:
which affect the
routine, operational elements of the driv-
ing task. Examples of systems include
adaptive cruise control (where the car
is kept at a set time gap from a lead ve-
hicle), speed limiting (the car speed can-
not exceed the current limit), lane keeping
(the driver's vehicle is kept within a given
lane), self parking (vehicle automatically
steers in low speed operation to position
itself within a selected parking space)
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