Comparing Electrostatic and Vibrotactile Feedback for In-Car Touchscreen Interaction using common User Interface Controls

The automotive evolution in virtual controls for touchscreen interaction provides the opportunity to manage and manipulate In-vehicle Infotainment (IVI) system without the need for large physical control. However, as most of these virtual controls are designed for visual feedback in PCs and mobile devices, their implementation can have usability and accessibility constraints in a moving vehicle. In fact, for some controls the interaction primitives may be substantially different from the physical versions (i.e., multi-finger knobs, single finger dials etc.), therefore requiring drivers to remaster the mechanics of virtual interaction to properly utilize these controls on a touchscreen surface. Although, some IVI systems now include basic vibrotactile feedback which may only provide abstract confirmation of triggers or events, but this technique may not be ideal for calibrated tactile or textural output in a moving vehicle. Recently, electrostatic or electrovibration feedback has been proposed for touchscreen interaction which can augment the systems with clear and precise textures rendered on the touchscreen. As this technology is relatively new and may have certain limitations, it is important to understand how the usability of current graphical user interfaces (GUIs) controls augmented with electrostatic feedback may improve touchscreen interaction. This research study looks at 8 common GUI controls adapted for touchscreen surfaces primarily for visual interaction and augments them with vibrotactile and electrostatic feedback. The goal of the study is to understand which type of controls are suitable for visual only interaction, and which controls require basic tactile feedback (vibration confirmation), while identifying the GUI controls that may be most effectively utilized in the presence of electrostatic tactile feedback on the touchscreen using friction variation.