Tactile feedback for virtual automotive steering wheel switches

Abstract

In order to minimize a driver's distraction while interacting with automotive systems, tactile feedback for virtual switches can be employed. Although several guidelines exist for feedback design, the exact settings are technology dependent and need careful investigation for each technology, especially when it is a newly invented one as in the present case. The present technology combines the advantages of mechanical switches and capacitive touchscreens without implicating each technology's disadvantages. A human-machine-interaction study was conducted in order to evaluate two waveforms and four different frequencies in terms of user preference. Users performed a pairwise comparison and rated each signal afterwards on a semantic differential. The 230 Hertz sine wave was preferred most in the study, although not all differences between the stimuli became significant. The newly developed technology could therefore be optimized with the present study in terms of user preference. The results of the present study may be transferable for other non-capacitive or capacitive touchscreen devices.