Constraining Design: Applying the Insights of Cognitive Work Analysis to the Design of Novel In-Car Interfaces to Support Eco-Driving

Allison, Craig K.; Stanton, Neville A. · 2020 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1007/s42154-020-00090-5

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Summary

This paper addresses the challenge of designing novel in-vehicle interfaces that support eco-driving behaviors, which can significantly reduce fuel consumption and vehicle emissions. The authors identify a gap in current design methodologies: while the Design with Intent (DwI) toolkit facilitates rapid, creative idea generation, it lacks constraints to ensure designs meet user and system needs. Conversely, Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA) provides a rigorous framework for mapping system constraints and user requirements but offers no clear pathway to translate these insights into tangible designs. The study aims to demonstrate that CWA can effectively constrain and validate DwI, creating a complementary process where CWA defines the boundaries and DwI generates solutions within those limits. The researchers conducted a proof-of-concept investigation involving two workshops with participants lacking formal design backgrounds. Each workshop focused on a specific driving scenario: waiting at traffic lights and overtaking. Participants were first introduced to a previously completed CWA of fuel-efficient driving, which included an abstraction hierarchy mapping functional purposes, values, functions, processes, and physical objects. Using this CWA as a constraint, participants then utilized the 101 DwI cards—organized into eight lenses such as Architectural, Errorproofing, and Cognitive—to design mock-up interfaces. The process involved an initial design phase followed by a review stage where participants refined their designs to ensure every element could be justified by the CWA insights. The results yielded two distinct interface mock-ups. For the "waiting at traffic lights" scenario, the team developed a head-down display incorporating eight key elements, including a countdown traffic light display, a potential-to-proceed indicator, a surround vision system, and a customizable fuel efficiency feedback display. The design was informed by 47 unique DwI cards. For instance, the fuel efficiency display used pictorial representations (e.g., a growing tree) to engage users, inspired by DwI cards focusing on simplicity and positioning. The authors demonstrate that each interface element could be directly linked to specific constraints and requirements identified in the CWA abstraction hierarchy, such as the need for real-time feedback and the minimization of distraction. The significance of this work lies in establishing a viable methodology for integrating human factors analysis with creative design tools. By combining the constraint-based rigor of CWA with the generative flexibility of DwI, the approach ensures that novel interface designs are not only innovative but also grounded in the fundamental operational requirements of the system and the needs of the user. This framework allows non-experts to produce validated design concepts efficiently, offering a structured path from theoretical analysis to practical interface development in complex socio-technical systems like automotive environments.

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• eco driving

Information type

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• Applied Guidance: design guidelines
• Methodological Resource: tool software