As automated vehicles (AVs) move toward mainstream adoption, understanding how users learn about and build trust in them is critical. Prior research shows that women hold safety concerns and report low trust and familiarity with AVs. While limited exposure is often cited as a cause, growing evidence indicates that women’s needs, preferences, and safety priorities remain insufficiently addressed in AV design and governance. We conducted ten dyadic and five individual semi-structured interviews with fifteen women drivers, guided by feminist HCI principles. We then analysed the findings for themes and through a socio-ecological framework to explore trust and learning across individual, interpersonal, institutional, community, and policy levels.

Passive fatigue during conditional automated driving can compromise driver readiness and safety. This paper presents findings from a test-track study with 40 participants in a real-world automated driving scenario. In this scenario, a Large Language Model (LLM) based conversational agent (CA) was designed to check in with drivers and re-engage them with their surroundings. Drawing on in-car video recordings, sleepiness ratings and interviews, we analysed how drivers interacted with the agent and how these interactions shaped alertness. Results show the CA is helpful for supporting vigilance during passive fatigue. Thematic analysis of acceptability further revealed three user preference profiles that implicate future intention to use CAs. Positioning empirically observed profiles within existing CA archetype frameworks highlights the need for adaptive design sensitive to diverse user groups. This work underscores the potential of CAs as proactive Human–Machine Interface (HMI) interventions, demonstrating how natural language can support context-aware interaction during automated driving.

Haptic technology has diverse applications in automated vehicles (AVs), yet research lacks a holistic view of its role in user experience and its inclusive potential for blind and low-vision (BLV) users.This paper reviews state-of-the-art haptic interfaces in AVs, examining technological foundations, applications, user experience considerations, and adaptability for BLV accessibility.We found that existing haptic interfaces are primarily designed for drivers during automation transitions, emphasizing effectiveness over hedonic experience.There is a knowledge gap in how such interfaces can improve BLV user experience in fully automated vehicles.We propose a shift from haptic-supported automated driving to Haptic-Augmented AV Experiences, advocating for more inclusive and adaptive haptic interactions beyond traditional driver-centric paradigms.

The emergence of automated vehicles (AVs) introduces new challenges to human-vehicle interactions, especially in conditional automated driving.This study presents different head-up display designs as the human-machine interface (HMI) to convey uncertainty to AV users.It investigates the impact of such designs on drivers' physiological responses-via electrodermal activity data-and subjective evaluations of cognitive workload during the automated drive.A between-subjects driving simulator experiment (N=187) was conducted to examine four conditions: baseline (no HMI), a progressive colour-based Guardian Angel display, a text-based interruption, and a combination approach.The results showed significant effects of the presence of the Guardian Angel display interventions on physiological arousal associated with cognitive workload.However, the subjective ratings showed no difference across conditions.These findings indicate that the designed displays can trigger physiological responses without affecting perceived workload.It offers

Figure 1: Using vestibular cues as a subtle awareness "nudge" modality in L3 automated driving scenario.

Domain adaptation is required for automated driving models to generalize well across diverse road conditions. This paper explores a training method for domain adaptation to adapt PilotNet, an end-to-end deep learning-based model, for left-hand driving conditions using real-world Australian highway data. Four training methods were evaluated: (1) a baseline model trained on U.S. right-hand driving data, (2) a model trained on flipped U.S. data, (3) a model pretrained on U.S. data and then fine-tuned on Australian highways, and (4) a model pretrained on flipped U.S. data and then fine-tuned on Australian highways. This setup examines whether incorporating flipped data enhances the model adaptation by providing an initial left-hand driving alignment. The paper compares model performance regarding steering prediction accuracy and attention, using saliency-based analysis to measure attention shifts across significant road regions. Results show that pretraining on flipped data alone worsens prediction stability due to misaligned feature representations, but significantly improves adaptation when followed by fine-tuning, leading to lower prediction error and stronger focus on left-side cues. To validate this approach across different architectures, the same experiments were done on ResNet, which confirmed similar adaptation trends. These findings emphasize the importance of preprocessing techniques, such as flipped-data pretraining, followed by fine-tuning to improve model adaptation with minimal retraining requirements.

Fully Automated Vehicles (FAVs) have the potential to provide blind and visually impaired (BVI) individuals with mobility independence. However, understanding their user experience in this new form of transportation presents challenges. Researchers in human-computer interaction and accessibility lack comprehensive guidance on conducting safe and ecologically valid studies with BVI participants. This poster reviews the literature and proposes a methodology for conducting field research with BVI users in automated vehicles, particularly in designing the human-machine interface (HMI) for FAVs. We present the participatory and in-the-field method with example study designs: a focus group for field study and an on-road driving study with a Wizard of Oz FAV. This method will assist researchers in gaining deeper insights into the interaction between BVI users and automated vehicles in the real world.

We introduce a conceptual framework exploring the learning methods for older adults in navigating automated vehicle interfaces. Through semi-structured interviews, we observed distinct approaches to learning, and based on these, offer a novel conceptualization of a ‘mentorable’ interface to enhance technology education. The introduction of automated vehicles (AVs) to transportation has required novel lenses to technology adoption. Although AVs require less demand in cognitive, motor, and sensory acuity, there is an increasing dependence on digital literacy. While technology education has been broadly explored through the lens of learnability, this paradigm does not work well for older adults due to its inherent trial-and-error approach to independent learning. Because older adults rely heavily on additional external support in learning technologies, we present a conceptual framework for ‘mentorability’, where a network of support is emphasized, and mentorship is integrated into the design process for in-vehicle interfaces.

This paper reports results from a high-fidelity driving simulator study (N=215) about a head-up display (HUD) that conveys a conditional automated vehicle’s dynamic “uncertainty” about the current situation while fallback drivers watch entertaining videos. We compared (between-group) three design interventions: display (a bar visualisation of uncertainty close to the video), interruption (interrupting the video during uncertain situations), and combination (a combination of both), against a baseline (video-only). We visualised eye-tracking data to conduct a heatmap analysis of the four groups’ gaze behaviour over time. We found interruptions initiated a phase during which participants interleaved their attention between monitoring and entertainment. This improved monitoring behaviour was more pronounced in combination compared to interruption, suggesting pre-warning interruptions have positive effects. The same addition had negative effects without interruptions (comparing baseline & display). Intermittent interruptions may have safety benefits over placing additional peripheral displays without compromising usability.

Cycling offers significant health and environmental benefits, but safety remains a critical issue. We need better tools and design processes to develop on-bicycle notification interfaces, for example, for hazard warnings, and to overcome design challenges associated with the cycling context. We present a physical computing toolkit that supports the rapid exploration and co-design of on-bicycle interfaces. Physical plug-and-play interaction modules controlled by an orchestration interface allow participants to explore different tangible and ambient interaction approaches on a budget cycling simulator. The toolkit was assessed by analysing video recordings of two group design workshops (N=8) and twelve individual design sessions (N=12). Our results show that the toolkit enabled flexible transitions between ideation and out-of-the-box thinking, prototyping, and immediate evaluation. We offer insights on how to design physical computing toolkits that offer low-cost, 'good enough' simulation while allowing for free and safe exploration of on-bicycle notification interfaces.

Automated driving raises new human factors challenges. There is a paradox that allows drivers to perform non-driving related tasks (NDRTs), while benefiting from a driver who regularly attends to the driving task. Systems that aim to better manage a driver's attention, encouraging task switching and interleaving, may help address this paradox. However, a better understanding of how drivers self-interrupt while engaging in NDRTs is required to inform such systems. This paper presents a counterbalanced within-subject simulator study with N=42 participants experiencing automated driving in a familiar driving environment. Participants chose a TV show to watch on a HUD and mobile display during two 15min drives on the same route. Eye and head tracking data revealed more self-interruptions in the HUD condition, suggesting a higher likelihood of a higher situation awareness. Our results may benefit the design of future attention management systems by informing the visual and temporal integration of the driving and non-driving related task.

The lack of automated cars above SAE level 3 raises challenges for conducting User Experience Design (UXD) and behaviour research for automated driving. User-centred methods are critical to ensuring a human-friendly progress of vehicle automation. This work introduces the Immersive Video-based Automated Driving (IVAD) Simulator. It uses carefully recorded 180/360° videos that are played back in a driving simulator. This provides immersive driving experiences in visually realistic and familiar environments. This paper reports learnings from an iterative development of IVAD, and findings of two user studies: One simulator study (N=15) focused on the immersive experience; and one VR study (N=16) focused on rapid prototyping and the evaluation of Augmented Reality (AR) concepts. Overall, we found the method to be a useful, versatile and low budget UXD tool with a high level of immersion that is uniquely aided by the familiarity of the environment. IVAD's limitations and future improvements are discussed in relation to research applications within AutoUI.

Low levels of engagement while driving can pose road safety risks, e.g., inattention during low traffic or routine trips. Interactive technologies that increase task engagement could therefore offer safety benefits, e.g., through performance feedback, increased challenge, and incentives. As a means to build upon these notions, we chose to explore gamification of the driving task. The research aim was to study how to design gamified applications that make safe driving more engaging. We present six design lenses which bring into focus considerations most relevant to creating engaging car applications. A user study enhanced our understanding of design requirements and revealed user personas to support the development of such applications. These lenses and personas informed two prototypes, which we evaluated in driving simulator studies. Our results indicate that the gamified conditions increased driver engagement and reduced driving speeds. As such, our work contributes towards the design of engaging applications that are both appropriate to the safety-critical driving context and compelling to users.

We present CoastMaster, a smartphone application that serves as an ambient speedometer and driving game display. Our work is motivated by the need to re-engage drivers in the driving task, e.g., in situations where manoeuvering the vehicle is straightforward and does not require high levels of engagement. CoastMaster supports drivers during speed limit changes by (a) re-engaging them in the driving task, and; (b) providing feedback on driving behaviour. In a simulator study (N=24), we compare a gamified and a non-gamified interface with regards to user experience, driving performance, and visual distraction. Our results indicate an increase in hedonic quality and driver engagement as well as a decrease in speed violations through the gamified condition. At the same time, the gamified version leads to longer glances towards the display suggesting visual distraction. Our study findings inform specific design recommendations for ambient interfaces and gamified driving.

This paper explores novel driving experiences that make use of gamification and augmented reality in the car. We discuss our design considerations, which are grounded in road safety psychology and video game design theory. We aim to address the tension between safe driving practices and player engagement. Specifically, we propose a holistic, iterative approach inspired by game design cognition and share our insights generated through the application of this process. We present preliminary game concepts that blend digital components with physical elements from the driving environment. We further highlight how this design process helped us to iteratively evolve these concepts towards being safer while maintaining fun. These insights and game design cognition itself will be useful to the AutomotiveUI community investigating similar novel driving experiences.

Young males are over-represented in road crashes. Part of the problem is their proneness to boredom, a hardwired personality factor that can lead to risky driving. This paper presents a theoretical understanding of boredom in the driving context and demonstrates convincing arguments to investigate the role of boredom further. Specifically, this paper calls for the design of innovative technologies and applications that make safe driving more pleasurable and stimulating for young males, e.g., by applying gamification techniques. We propose two design concepts through the following questions: A. Can the simulation of risky driving reduce actual risky driving? B. Can the replacement of risky driving stimuli with alternative stimuli reduce risky driving? We argue that considering these questions in the future design of automotive user-interfaces and personal ubiquitous computing devices could effectively reduce risky driving behaviours among young males.

This paper explores an emerging paradigm for HCI design research based primarily upon engagement, reciprocity and doing. Much HCI research begins with an investigatory and analytic ethnographic approach before translating to design. Design may come much later in the process and may never benefit the community that is researched. However in many settings it is difficult for researchers to access the privileged ethnographer position of observer and investigator. Moreover rapid ethnographic research often does not seem the best or most appropriate course of action. We draw upon a project working with a remote Australian Aboriginal community to illustrate an alternative approach in Indigenous research, where the notion of reciprocity is first and foremost. We argue that this can lead to sustainable designs, valid research and profound innovation.

A growing body of research is looking at ways to bring the processes and benefits of online deliberation to the places they are about and in turn allow a larger, targeted proportion of the urban public to have a voice, be heard, and engage in questions of city planning and design. Seeking to take advantage of the civic opportunities of situated engagement through public screens and mobile devices, our research informed a public urban screen content application DIS that we deployed and evaluated in a wide range of real world public and urban environments. For example, it is currently running on the renowned urban screen at Federation Square in Melbourne. We analysed the data from these user studies within a conceptual framework that positions situated engagement across three key parameters: people, content, and location. We propose a way to identify the sweet spot within the nexus of these parameters to help deploy and run interactive systems to maximise the quality of the situated engagement for civic and related deliberation purposes.

Digital information that is place- and time-specific, is increasingly becoming available on all aspects of the urban landscape. People (cf. the Social Web), places (cf. the Geo Web), and physical objects (cf. ubiquitous computing, the Internet of Things) are increasingly infused with sensors, actuators, and tagged with a wealth of digital information. Urban informatics research explores these emerging digital layers of the city at the intersection of people, place and technology. However, little is known about the challenges and new opportunities that these digital layers may offer to road users driving through today's mega cities. We argue that this aspect is worth exploring in particular with regards to Auto-UI's overarching goal of making cars both safer and more enjoyable. This paper presents the findings of a pilot study, which included 14 urban informatics research experts participating in a guided ideation (idea creation) workshop within a simulated environment. They were immersed into different driving scenarios to imagine novel urban informatics type of applications specific to the driving context.

Local governments struggle to engage time poor and seemingly apathetic citizens, as well as the city's young digital natives, the digital locals. This project aims at providing a lightweight, technological contribution towards removing the hierarchy between those who build the city and those who use it. We aim to narrow this gap by enhancing people's experience of physical spaces with digital, civic technologies that are directly accessible within that space. This paper presents the findings of a design trial allowing users to interact with a public screen via their mobile phones. The screen facilitated a feedback platform about a concrete urban planning project by promoting specific questions and encouraging direct, in-situ, real-time responses via SMS and twitter. This new mechanism offers additional benefits for civic participation as it gives voice to residents who otherwise would not be heard. It also promotes a positive attitude towards local governments and gathers information different from more traditional public engagement tools.

In this paper, we describe the Vannotea system - an application designed to enable collaborating groups to discuss and annotate collections of high quality images, video, audio or 3D objects. The system has been designed specifically to capture and share scholarly discourse and annotations about multimedia research data by teams of trusted colleagues within a research or academic environment. As such, it provides: authenticated access to a web browser search interface for discovering and retrieving media objects; a media replay window that can incorporate a variety of embedded plug-ins to render different scientific media formats; an annotation authoring, editing, searching and browsing tool; and session logging and replay capabilities. Annotations are personal remarks, interpretations, questions or references that can be attached to whole files, segments or regions. Vannotea enables annotations to be attached either synchronously (using jabber message passing and audio/video conferencing) or asynchronously and stand-alone. The annotations are stored on an Annotea server, extended for multimedia content. Their access, retrieval and re-use is controlled via Shibboleth identity management and XACML access policies.

A number of research groups and software companies have developed digital annotation tools for textual documents, Web pages, images, and audio and video resources. By annotations we mean subjective comments, notes, explanations or external remarks that can be attached to a document or a selected part of a document without actually modifying the document. When a user retrieves a document, they can also download the annotations attached to it from an annotation server to view their peer's opinions and perspectives on the particular document or to add, edit or update their own annotations. The ability to do this collaboratively and in real time during group discussions is of great interest to the educational, medical, scientific, cultural, defense, and media communities. But it is extremely challenging technically and demands significant bandwidth, particularly for video documents. In this paper, we describe a unique prototype application developed over the Australian GrangeNet broadband research network, which combines videoconferencing over access grid nodes with collaborative, real-time sharing of an application which enables the indexing, browsing, annotation, and discussion of video content between multiple groups at remote locations.