Dash
Drive focused, drive safe
01
Screens grab our attention
This isn't a news headline. Driving a car is rife with multitasking, inherently complex and potentially dangerous. We should leverage technology to make driving as safe as possible. Manufacturers have embraced touchscreens and digital displays to this end, but are they as safe and easy to use as possible?
Dash presents a pared down set of visual elements to our driver. Here's a look at how this helps them maintain focus while having access to the info they need and want.
Current tech
There are over 30 pieces of data displayed on the Tesla Model 3 dash; Information overload is compounded by the use of a single display for all of this data.
At the other end of the spectrum lies the Mitsubishi Mirage, which has 5 pieces to look at.
While conducting research about this disparity I discovered that an average user can recall 7 pieces of information.
So why are displays showing us 30 things to look at and recall? How many of these does a driver need to be safe and informed?
How might we design legible screens and no look controls to reduce distraction and enable focus?
"My dash has speed, mileage and lots of other stuff I don't pay attention to."
Defeating distraction
Goals for this design are centered around reducing information and visual clutter. Legibility and recall are also important, when you're reading at 75 mph it needs to be easy.
02
When does small scale adversely affect legibility. Should a fuel gauge use 1/3 of the screen space.
In a crowded composition speed and navigation are largest and take central positions.
Will font weight affect recall of primary information. How much space is required between each element to keep each visually distinct.
Should speed and navigation share equal screen space. Screen space is blocked by the steering wheel, the steering wheel divides usable space.
Dash is different
The speedometer is the largest display element. It features an intuitive, color-coded, speed warning system. The driver can choose which elements are displayed by default. Written status indicators prevent misinterpretation of icons.
03
A central speedometer & nested info
The first read will always be the current speed. Drivers can choose which info is the default secondary focus. Fuel range and status indicators are always present.
Safety first & second
It's immediately apparent our driver is exceeding the speed limit. Integrated blind spot monitoring alerts them to a nearby car whether they look at their mirrors or not.
Behind the wheel
Some car makers aren't taking into account how much of the screen is blocked by the steering wheel. Considering screen occlusion informs how display elements are positioned to remain visible.
Informed designs
I ran over 20 eye tracking sessions during user testing. Placement of graphic elements wasn't left to chance, but rather determined by where users had looked in previous tests and designs.
Tactile is safe
Of equal importance to visual feedback are analog controls that fall to hand. A physical, tactile interface is a must for no-look control while driving. What's the best way to configure them for ease of use and rapid familiarity?
04
"I don't feel totally safe messing with the touchscreen, I need to look to see what I'm doing."
It became clear from interviews that drivers need physical controls to feel safe. I wanted to find the best button size and layout for control touchpoints; best is defined as easiest to find without looking.
Touch point testing was completed using 8 different knob layouts seen below.
Testing methodology:
Users were instructed to keep their eyes on the road while attempting to touch temperature, fan speed and fan location knobs. Each set of dials was tested 10 times with randomized prompts.
A horizontal configuration pictured below yielded the highest accuracy score.
Takeaways & numbers
User testing revealed a few core findings; display designs with fewer graphical elements score higher on recall tests. Large physical controls are the easiest to use without looking away from the road. While it's tempting to re-design "standard" graphics it makes them harder for users to read.
05
Prince
71%
1 user
+35%
Extracts & next steps
This project hinged on seeking safer solutions and then designing and testing towards them. Emphasis was put on ease of use, information recall and visual focal points.
It’s clear that safer displays can be implemented however there are some open questions. When to reinvent the wheel or use industry standards? How do we direct user focus in an automotive setting? What information enhances safety on an everyday basis? How do we balance safety with driver entertainment?
Regardless of our answers it’s clear there’s room for improvement and standardization in current display offerings. Safety shouldn’t be a luxury and leveraging display tech is a low cost path towards better in-car displays.