Using a user-independent approach for automotive human-machine interface assessment
archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified
Summary
SAGE Research Methods Case (book chapter) outlining a user-independent approach to automotive HMI usability assessment. Grounded in the visual search paradigm, the method scores interface design features—menu depth, system responsiveness, button density, target-button proportional size, and number of interaction steps for voice tasks—rather than measuring driver performance directly. Aggregate scores were computed for six widely deployed infotainment systems (HondaLink, FCA UConnect 3 and 8.4, Ford Sync3, Hyundai proprietary, Chevrolet MyLink) and validated against an on-road study with 32 participants who completed phone-call and radio-tuning tasks while reporting NASA-TLX and System Usability Scale ratings.
Key finding
Aggregate user-independent scores derived from visual-search-grounded interface features (menu depth, responsiveness, button layout, voice interaction steps) showed strong linear-regression correlations with on-road workload and usability ratings across six infotainment systems, supporting design-only assessment as an early-stage proxy for driver-in-the-loop testing.
Methodology
Conceptual paper plus initial validation. Six in-vehicle infotainment systems scored on interface design features (menu depth, system responsiveness, target-button proportional size, button density, voice interaction steps). Cross-validation: 32 participants performed phone-call and radio-tuning tasks on-road; NASA-TLX, System Usability Scale, and complexity ratings collected. Linear regression tested whether aggregate design scores predicted on-road workload and usability.
Sample size: Cross-validation: N=32 drivers across six infotainment systems
Quality score: 5 / 5