People expect to live in a seamlessly connected world, and automakers have been challenged to create information and entertainment systems that help drivers stay connected while avoiding distractions.
We constantly hear messages about the dangers of distracted driving, and rightfully so. But new tools have emerged which allow mobile devices to integrate seamlessly into our vehicle’s “infotainment system” to keep us connected while also giving us real time safety information, making us safer than ever before.
Allowing a mobile device to sync with the car infotainment system has been a recent step towards the entire ecosystem of devices talking with each other, but the fun comes in how far we can push it. Voice recognition via the phone, gesture control and overall hands free interactions will make the car a much safer and enjoyable place to be.
We recently worked with a large auto company on the next generation of an infotainment system, which was fitted with gesture and voice controls, allowing users to command features with more general movements such as a wave or verbal command, rather than having to look for specific buttons to press. Drivers were able to gesture close notifications on the screen, and synch their phones with the infotainment system, allowing us to display minimal information such as email, calendar, phone and text notifications, but deliver maximum visual impact, giving the driver easier access to the information without diverting their attention. Driver distraction was reduced by deactivating experiences while driving, and by allowing drivers to operate their phones with the vehicle system instead of a small device.
Propane has worked on a variety of auto projects over the years, ranging from touch screen kiosks and mobile apps to interface design and development of infotainment systems. We’ve worked on larger luxury cars such as the Audi A8, which utilizes dials, buttons and a touchpad for controlling its infotainment system, and smaller models which use touchscreens.
Our most recent engagement was for a redesign of an infotainment system, where we were tasked with careful consideration of how drivers interacted with in-car challenges and social media. The Human Machine Interface (HMI) within most cars consist of physical buttons along the left and right sides of a touchscreen, and a row of interactive navigation buttons along the bottom of the screen. We took into account the look and feel of the car interior, making sure button design and fonts within the infotainment system were in relation to the physical buttons. Since these specific automobiles usually have a smaller car interior, users interact with the touchscreen often, therefore font size and color contrast was maximized for legibility and ease of use.
In a previous infotainment system design for the Audi A8, we focused on the exterior beauty of the physical car, and brought those elements back into the interface design. With the A8 being a luxury vehicle, it’s designed with maximum space for the driver, hence the HMI being a dial, buttons and track pad mounted in the center console, and a display that retreats into the dashboard above. We were able to create a unique new interface design based upon the fluid curves of the car, with custom iconography and animation, resulting in a simple and clutter free experience.
Moving forward, automakers will allow for more modular and standardized systems within their cars. As drivers and passengers bring devices into their cars, manufacturers will consider how passengers integrate with the system and each other. Apple and Android are already making simplified user interfaces for use within vehicles, making the connected ecosystem that much closer, and automakers are beginning to jump on the wagon.