Software Aims to Reduce Road Rage

Cars may eventually become capable of harvesting huge amounts of data from drivers, but what will this data be used for? Stanford Professor, Cliff Nass, explains how the Car Lab will improve driving safety and make in-car advertising effective.

Keep it simple, Keep it clear!

I contacted Filip Krnja few day ago and got a some really helpful hints.

Filip Krnja is a research associate and author of the 'Connected Car' study which I mentioned in this blog few month ago. He sent me an excellent video with his presentation about this project.

Everyone who is interested in Inclusive Design, Universal Design and Sustainable Design Methods, Tools and Approaches - MUST WATCH!

He also wrote me that HHC released a very comprehensive guide to inclusive design: 'Innovating with People - The business of Inclusive Design'.
Please see this LINK.

Thanks for that Filip. You truly inspire me!

Sebastian Thrun: Google's Driverless Car

Sebastian Thrun helped build Google's amazing driverless car, powered by a very personal quest to save lives and reduce traffic accidents. Jawdropping video shows the DARPA Challenge-winning car motoring through busy city traffic with no one behind the wheel, and dramatic test drive footage from TED2011 demonstrates how fast the thing can really go.

http://www.ted.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_driverless_car

Car Measurement Information Project

Collection of car measurement data on an ongoing basis to provide comparative consumer information on different car models for older and disabled people. The data focuses on ease of getting in and out of the cars and storing equipment in the boot. Ongoing. See Car Measurement Guide. Clients: Motability Operations Ltd and International Research & Testing Ltd.

Cars Going Supersize

Rising obesity levels mean car makers are having to go to ever more elaborate lengths to accommodate supersized drivers. Mercedes is testing stronger version of the grab handles, so they can cope with extra weight of heavier passengers hauling themselves out of their seats. Ford has increased the size of dashboard buttons so that drivers with large 'sausage' fingers don't accidentally press several at once. And many manufacturers now offer electrically powered steering wheels that lift away from the driver when the engine is turned off, to aid and easier gateway.

Manufacturers are taking a scientific approach to the problem, too. BMW has recruited a group of 800 'guinea pigs' to study mobility in a car's cabin - to help it ensure its models can fit 95% of body size. The firm has developed seats with "comfort adjusters" - adjustable side bolsters that will grip thinner occupants and still be comfortable for larger ones.

Ford and Nissan have created fat suits for engineers to wear while developing control systems, so that buttons can be placed in convenient locations for larger drivers. The suit is responsible for the movement of the hazard light button from below the steering wheel to the top of dashboard.

Examples of inclusive design solutions:

  -  Steering Wheel: Lifts away from driver when engine is switched off for easy exit from car.

  -  Dashboard Buttons: Strategically placed and bigger accommodate 'sausage' fingers.

  -  Hazard Light: Button moved from under steering wheel to top of dash for easy access.

  -  Seats: Adjustable side bolsters allow larger drivers to get comfortable.

By John Morgan

AutoExpress No. 1119

2-8 November 2011

Inclusive Design Toolkit

Probably the world best known INCLUSIVE DESIGN TOOLKIT.
To get through and easily understand I highly recommend to buy this publication I've just read:


Countering Design Exlusions - An introduction to inclusive design
by Simeon Keates and john Clarkson

To see few chapters, samples and examples from this book please follow the link.

Interactive Experiences - Ford SmartGauge with EcoGuide

Designing better drivers






In their drive for fuel economy, Ford recently came to us to help design the SmartGauge with EcoGuide, an innovative instrument cluster for their hybrid vehicles. We came to them with the thought that design could influence driving behavior. Ford’s engineers would optimize efficiency of the vehicle - we would optimize efficiency of the driver.

The Smart Design team worked to clarify the lines of communication between driver and machine. Confusing information was eliminated to make room for meaningful feedback. Our design for SmartGauge has opened a dialog between car and driver which allows them to respond to each other in ways that lead to better driving decisions and, importantly, saving gas. It represents a paradigm shift in auto design and a revolutionary new experience for drivers.

Talk of the SmartGauge with EcoGuide, which debuted in the 2010 Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids, is buzzing through the auto industry and the environmental community. The business world is also taking note, with several recent articles on BusinessWeek.com and in Fast Company. The SmartGauge with EcoGuide was designed in collaboration with IDEO and Ford’s internal team.

The Ford Fusion was named 2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year among numerous other accolades and has been credited with lifting Ford’s sales numbers by 46% year on year. Our design of SmartGauge was named a Finalist in the 2009 IDEA competition through IDSA/BusinessWeek and earned an Outstanding Achievement honor from the HOW Interactive Design Awards.

Source: SMART DESIGN 

Application of Ergonomic Analysis in CATIA V5 Modules

The current development of new products and improving of the existing is almost unimaginable without the application of some CAD system. Since the products are intended for people it is necessary to pay particular attention to human factor, which manifests itself as taking into account the ergonomics for the purpose of easier and more convenient use of the product, as well as for health purposes - injurious impact of long-term use of the product. The producers of CAD systems know it and integrate into their systems modules designed for ergonomic analysis. One of these systems is also CATIA, which has various instruments designed for ergonomic analysis. Their using can be very diverse and can be applied to design of almost any product, but their use is dominant in the products which are intensively used by humans, as is by example: car. The article describes the application of selected modules in ergonomic seat design and verification of the suitability of the location of the car steering wheel.

Please see the source LINK for more info. 

Ramsis Automotive

Efficient interior development

The 3D CAD manikin RAMSIS is a highly accurate simulation software program for a wide range of design and construction analyses. RAMSIS addresses demands on ergonomics, comfort and safety as early as the planning stage. Latter-stage improvements can be dispensed with and the need for physical test benches is significant reduced.

RAMSIS analysis quality contributes considerably to series production readiness - and consequently to the economic success of the vehicle, since the system uses current, international body dimension databases to supply accurate representative results about product requirements for complex international target markets - roughly 3 to 5 times faster than conventional analysis methods. This reduces costs by up to 50% (Source: independent calculations by vehicle manufacturers).

Analyses with RAMSIS can be applied to completely different vehicle types. Time and costs for time-consuming space-saving tests for new vehicle concepts can be dispensed with. The system acquires and analyzes physical measurement sizes just as dependably as it does with the space, force and vision requirements of a target group. RAMSIS has all these factors flow into the design process - and then actively recommends ergonomic and expedient solutions based on the specific details of the project at hand.

► Development costs reduced by more than 50%

► Reduction of vehicle development timeframe by a factor of 3 to 5

► Optimal reachability and operability of all operating controls

► Representation of human differences through an international group of virtual test persons

► Direct comparison of various vehicle concepts with the same test collective

Source: HUMAN SOLUTIONS

Designing Vehicles for Older Users

Please read really general, but quite useful presentation written by:

Sarah Davies
Senior Lecturer Ergonomics and Usability

Designing Vehicles for Older Users

Automotive - TH!NK

This case study describes how the Norwegian electric car company Think used Inclusive Design to explore how information interfaces could change in the vehicle of tomorrow. Users aged between 24 and 82 provided the inspiration for many new ideas.

Please see the source: Think - Electric Car

PROBLEM

How can a future car enhance communication and information flow?

Current car cockpits only provide limited information services such as route planning and voice calls. TH!NK saw an opportunity to go beyond this to enable connectivity between the car, home, workplace and the city.

APPROACH

Talking to users in context helped to explore digital connectivity.

Users with a wide range of ages and mobility requirements were interviewed whilst going about their daily routines. Many people were interviewed in their vehicles or on the street to get a better sense of context. They were asked to respond to images and questions aimed at gathering insights and aspirations with a particular focus on mobility and connectivity.

An interactive persona sheet was developed for each person as a tool to help capture and communicate their lifestyles and needs. This tool enabled the designer to turn the insights into design briefs.

RESULT

Design concepts that support the drivers and passengers of tomorrow.

The new digital dashboard can be adjusted to suit the preference of the driver by enlarging the size of the dials and improving contrast for older people. The display can also reduce visual clutter and show additional information such as weather or flight arrival times. The car also benefits the city providing wifi hotspots and street lighting for passers by and feeding electricity back into the national grid at peak times.

The research with users and persona sheets continue to be used by Think in their development process. This allows ideas to be pre-tested virtually with real people

TH!NK urban mobility concept from Norsk Designråd on Vimeo.

Ford Focus

Designed for easier access for older drivers and passengers, but appealing to young and old alike.

Unlike any car built by Ford before, the designers of the Focus were encouraged to design for the needs of older drivers as well as the usual younger target market. Ford even went so far as to develop a novel method of simulating the effects of old age using what became known as the 'Third Age Suit' (Steinfeld and Steinfeld, 2001).

The suit was designed to add the equivalent of 30 years of ageing to the wearer. This ageing effect is achieved by using joint stiffeners in the neck, back, stomach and knees to simulate the reduced flexion from conditions such as arthritis. The suit is the antithesis of dieting, adding both weight and bulk around the torso to mimic both the change in body shape and the difficulty in getting into and out of cars often associated with ageing. Visual impairments, such as cataracts, are also simulated through the use of spectacles with different lenses.

Designers were encouraged to wear the suit to increase their empathy for older users by letting them experience some of the difficulties faced by such drivers. As a result of their use of the suit, the Ford Focus offers many innovative features. For example, it has the most headroom of any cars in its class. The front door is wider and higher than that of the Escort and the seats are higher. This combination of door size and seat height makes it significantly easier to get in and out of the Focus. The dashboard controls are larger than those of its predecessor and have been designed to be easier to locate, grab and operate.

All of the features developed to make the car easier to operate and drive for older adults have not adversely affected the enjoyment of the Focus for younger drivers. Indeed, many of the features introduced are of benefit to all drivers. For example, the easier access to the car is good for parents with small children. Larger, easy to use controls are good for everyone.

The buttons and dials in the dashboard were designed to be easy to see and operate.

The new, more inclusive Focus has continued the sales success of its predecessors and is regularly the top-selling car in the UK.

Ford's main rival, General Motors (GM), has also embraced the need to design cars for older drivers. Rather than simulate the effects of age, GM has formed the Paragon research team featuring older and retired engineers. One of their earliest recommendations has been the relocation of the ignition switch to the dashboard to make it easier to operate for drivers with difficulty twisting their wrists.

None of the Ford's advertising makes reference to the investment in accessibility and inclusivity. The tacit implication is that Ford believes that admitting that the Focus was in part designed for older drivers may deter younger customers from purchasing it.

In other words, Ford apparently subscribes to the maxim that you can sell a young person's product to and older customer, but not vice versa. In other words, many customers are still young at heart, if not in body. Some commentators have even gone so far as wonder to whether it is even possible to sell an old person's product to an older customer. (Ford, 2000)

Text originally from: Inclusive Design - University of Cambridge

Countering Design Exclusion - An Introduction to inclusive design

Let me share some important ideas, notes and texts about Inclusive Design from this book written by Siemon Keates and John Clarkson.

Research has shown that while many companies agree with the principles of designing inclusively, they consider it impractical for them to adopt such practices. The reasons commonly cited include:

• Insufficient financial resources / time

• Inadequate access to product users

• Inexperience in dealing directly with users

• A lack of demand from commissioners of the design

Inclusive Design (an umbrella term for the broad collection of approaches, methods and practices for designing inclusively) aims to highlight and reduce such exclusion.

Remote Controls

The remote controls with very many buttons have become so complicated for one of two possible reasons. One explanation is that they have been designed by simply adding more buttons and features with scant regard for usability of the device. The other reason is that they have been deliberately designed to appear technically impressive ("It must be a good television if this has got so many controls"). Irrespective of the reasoning behind the design, the end result is often a remote control that is unnecessarily difficult to use. 

Designers frequently find themselves having to compromise between two conflicting design objectives, knowing that whatever solution they come up with will almost certainly prevent one group of users or other from being able to use the product or service being developed. To help achieve the best possible trade-off between such conflicting requirements necessitates providing the designer with detailed information about the population so that the designer can make an informed decision.

"...Designers ensure that their products and services address the needs of the widest possible audience."
(DTI Foresight, 2000)

To be real use in inclusive design, it is necessary to investigate the relationship between design for usability, design for accessibility and inclusive design.

Social Acceptability = Aesthetic Characteristics (match users capabilities and taste)

DBA Inclusive Design Challenge