Sedan Vehicle

Perceived Interior Space of Motor Vehicles

Research Question

Whether the illusory design elements based on the principles of perspective, geometric, and concave/convex illusions have significant effects on increasing the perceived space of motor vehicles, and what are the guidelines for implementation of car interior design using those optical illusions.

Objective

The purpose of this study is to answer the above research questions by investigating the effects of car interior design with optical illusory design elements on drivers and passengers’ perceived roominess.

Method

Instrument panels, door-trim armrests, and A-pillars were chosen as the interior spaces of cars that optical illusions were applied to because drivers most frequently recognize and use them. To get alternative car interior designs, the original car designs were modified by applying optical illusions.

Also, the questionnaire that includes 28 questions was used to measure “perceived roominess,” “space completeness,” “openness,” “dullness,” and “narrowness” for original interior design and alternative designs based on optical illusions, and 30 people participated in the experiments that were conducted to compare among original and optical illusion–based designs.

Result

As a result, optical illusion–based designs were significantly better than original designs in terms of perceived roominess, and the following alternative designs were recommended: the instrument panel design of a 30% longer converging point than the original design, the horizontal door-trim armrest design, and the A-pillar design whose cross section is rectangular.

We can conclude that the optical illusions can be applied to designing in-vehicle spaces to increase perceived roominess.

Publication

• Yang, E., Ahn, H., Kim, N., Jung, H., Kim, K., & Hwang, W. (2015) Perceived Interior Space of Motor Vehicles based on Illusory Design Elements. Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries, 25(5), 573-584.

Public Transportation

Bus Information Management System for Drivers

Objective

This study aims that designing a system which provides higher performance by understanding how drivers manage their tasks and how drivers perform their typical process and react to unexpected events.

Problem and Challenge

Currently for CyRide buses there are several interfaces for the driver to manage. These systems overwhelm the driver at times, especially when passengers ask for help or information. The driver's situational awareness is negatively impacted by the number of responsibilities placed on the driver, which could impact safety. Since the operating systems inside of buses are from all different interfaces, designing one package of system is challenging.

Approach

By using various methods such as observation, task card sorting, affinity diagram, mind-mapping, non-user evaluations, and experiment. Once gathering data from experiment with users, statistical analysis was employed to understand what are the differences between current system and proposed prototype of this study.

Benefits and Impact

The system will benefit the bus drivers, not only by reducing the number of area they need to focus on at all times and reduce memory load. This is achieved by consolidating some of the current display interface on one spot and integrate the new system to be able to include, not limited to, the time points, transfers, and detours. Therefore, it is hoped that drivers could focus more on the traffic and safety, which is one of the main value of CyRide. Another side benefit that can be achieved is by reducing the amount of paperwork needs to be done, for example tallying and planning for the time points in advance.

Frequently Used Tool

Data Analysis: R, SAS, JMP

Design/Prototyping: Adobe Muse, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop

Communication: Trello, Slack, Google Hangout, Zoom

Public Transportation

Bus Stop Information System for Passengers

Background and Challenge

New students have a ton of new experiences ahead of them the moment they step on Iowa State University’s campus. For example, they have freedom to do what they want and it is up to them to try and find their way around campus and the city of Ames. The best way to get around the city of Ames is to use CyRide as the mode of transportation. It is important that CyRide is constantly looking to provide the best user experience as possible. Two major challenges in creating an excellent experience for the user is allowing them to know when the bus will arrive at a certain bus stop and when the bus they are currently on will arrive at their desired stop.

Method

There are a number of different task analysis methods available to the human factors practitioner. These methods include hierarchical task analysis (HTA), tabular task analysis (TTA), verbal protocol analysis (VPA), goals, operators, methods, and selection rules (GOMS) and the sub-goal template (SGT) methods. The most commonly used and well-known task analysis method is the HTA. The HTA method breaks down the task under analysis into a nested hierarchy of goals, operations, and plans. The GOMS method attempts to define the user’s goals, decompose these goals into sub-goals, and demonstrate how the goals are achieved through user interaction. The VPA method is used to derive the cognitive and physical processes that an individual uses to perform a task. It also involves creating a written transcript of an operator’s behavior as they perform the task description using specific categories to exhaustively describe actions, goals, controls, potential errors, and time constraints. The SGT method is a development of HTA that is used to specify information requirements to system designers. The output of the SGT method provides a re-description of HTA for the task(s) under analysis in terms of information handling operations (IHOs), SGT task elements, and the associated information requirements.

Result

From the questionnaire, 100% participators said they can hear the voice clearly, while only 80% could actually see the visual component clearly. One reason for those participators not being able to see the screen clearly could have been that they were seated on the same side of the screen, the viewing angle was too small for them. The participants who were furthest away indicated that the stop names on the screen were a little ambiguous but they could, for the most part, identify the names of the stop; however, the red dots were clear. The participators who can read the screen said they understood the meaning of the read red dots and the flashing red dots. The solid red dots means the bus is at or has passed a stop and the flashing red dot means the bus is on the its way to a stop.

Frequently Used Tool

Data Analysis: R, SAS, JMP

Design/Prototyping: Adobe Muse, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop

Communication: Trello, Slack, Google Hangout, Zoom

Agricultural Equipment

Usability Improvement of Embedded Touch Interface

Continuous Improvement

Creating an easy-to-use interface for the complex in-cab systems needed for precision agriculture. The touch based system enables users to efficiently monitor, easily control and accurately record their field work with minimal training.

Method

Organizing technology needs for various types of users and testing environments. Employing a variety of methodologies including usability studies, contextual inquiry, task analysis, heuristic evaluation, surveys, scenarios, personas, and other proper qualitative and quantitative research techniques. Traveling to off-site locations and facilitated validation sessions such as one-on-one moderated tests and focus groups to obtain user preferences and feedback.

Deliverable

Presenting feedback and recommendations to stakeholders with the appropriate business and user experience framework.

Frequently Used Tool

Data Analysis: R, SAS, JMP, Handrail, Optimal Workshop

Design/Prototyping: Axure, Unity, Adobe Illustrator

Communication: Trello, Slack