Theater-system Technique and Model-based Attention Prediction for the Early Automotive HMI Design Evaluation

Automotive HMI design evaluation methods, such as usability assessments, attention and reaction time measurements require full working HMI prototypes to assess the usability and the subjects' performances in realistic situations. The theater-system technique and model-based prediction methods do not depend on functional HMI implementations and therefore promise HMI evaluation already in an early design phase. We applied both methods to evaluate three HMI designs for an Urban Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) System. In a qualitative study with twelve participants, we used a theater-system-based technique to let them experience the HMIs in realistic situations. Subjects clearly preferred the HMI variant, which offers the best understanding of the vehicle's automation. By following a model-based approach, we evaluated the impacts to the driver's visual attention distribution of the three HMI variants with six human factor experts and found significant attention changes for the front window and for the Urban ACC HMI.