EVALUATING USER-FRIENDLY DASHBOARDS FOR DRIVERLESS VEHICLES: EVALUATION OF IN-CAR  INFOTAINMENT IN TRANSITION

 The automotive industry has experienced significant digitalization in the past three decades,  revolutionizing the way we interact with vehicles and enhancing our driving experience. Tech firms worldwide have been investing in autonomous driving technologies, gaining a competitive edge in the market. As our lives become more screen-centric, the demand for advanced in-car user interfaces has increased, leading to a growing focus on enhancing the overall driving experience and integrating seamless connectivity within vehicles. To ensure efficiency and safety, it is essential to design user interfaces that prioritize simplicity and reduce distractions.  The autonomous driving capability has been observed across OEMs, making mobility efficient and safe while also being time efficient. Shifting to electric vehicles with autonomous driving aims to reduce emissions and promote electrification. Digitalization has become more prominent in the industry, focusing on user experience and convenience through innovative interfaces. As humans are vulnerable to mistakes, the market is becoming more competitive, with features like instrument clusters, steering wheel controls, and head-up displays (HUD) becoming common in modern vehicles. Advanced technologies like voice recognition and touchscreen interfaces are also becoming popular in the automotive industry, but they must run flawlessly to provide the best user experience.  The advent of autonomous driving requires rethinking interface design principles. It investigates the transitions from traditional physical controls to touchscreens and voice commands by analysing the historical development of in-car infotainment systems. It addresses obstacles encountered during this evolution, such as user adaptation to novel interfaces and cognitive burden caused by information overflow. In addition, it examines the specific design considerations for autonomous mode dashboards.