In-car indirect communication. Creating an interface for the expression of emotions between the driver and the passengers

Abstract

During an event, the Kansei-Sensation of individuals vary. For example, while driving, the experience of the driver and the passengers can be different. The driver can be overexcited because enjoys a fast ride, but the passengers can be scared or anxious. The passengers have a tendency to avoid expressing discomfort or negative emotions to the driver about his driving behavior or performance. The problem that results from this is that the driver is not aware of the emotional condition of the passengers and this worsens the experience. This research solves this problem by creating an interface that helps the passengers to express their emotions to the driver in an indirect way. To achieve that, a fully functional prototype was created, and the interaction between the passengers and the driver was tested in a driving simulator during a driving task. The results of the use of the sensor, the speed and the heart rate of the passenger were measured. Since the results showed that 8 out of 10 couples used the indirect interface instead of any other kind of communication concluded that the interface helps the passengers to express their emotions easier. In addition, since the driving speed reduction had a significant difference concluded that the drivers took into consideration the interface and adjust their driving behavior accordingly.