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2.1. VOLVO’S VISION
CHAPTER 2. BACKGROUND
of the system for the user. This linguistic barrier is meant to describe the different ways of
interacting with a touch based CSD and its flawed partnership with the interaction that
the tangible steering wheel buttons are operated by. A supplier to Volvo, ALPS Electric,
has recently presented a concept in which they have integrated a touchpad which has
replaced the old mechanical buttons on the steering wheel that potentially could control
the DIM and HUD. This touchpad has the ability to recognize patterns, characters, and
symbols that are entered into it. This pattern recognition could be used for e.g. quick
commands and writing shorter phrases and/or names. To stay in the forefront of the
design and development of in-vehicle interaction Volvo wants to explore the possibilities
and potential that arises with this technology. Both in the aspect of improving the user
experience while driving and satisfying the new traffic safety regulations from National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) [2].
2.1
Volvo’s Vision
One of Volvo Cars expressed goals is to develop the brand and the cars to have a more
premium status. Premium in this context is the notion that the feel of a Volvo car should
be more elegant and modern than other competing car brands. One might argue that
the implementation of touch technologies into the driver-to-car interaction is a great step
towards that direction. An example of another brand in the automobile business that
has expressed and is undergoing such a transformation is Audi AG. The Audi group sets
the goal to become the leading brand in the premium car segment worldwide which was
disclosed in 2010 [3].
2.2
Linguistic Barrier
Up until recently, most of the interaction in the car has been operated by mechanical
buttons and switches. Examples of these are: air condition buttons, flashers, Cruise
Control, seat heating, volume control etc. These tangible objects often have 1:1-mapped
functionality, which means that they control one or several parameters of the car. With
the introduction of a touch based CSD, many of these controls gets boiled down into one
big touch screen (see fig 2.2).
An obvious complication arrives with having different ways of interaction in between
the CSD and the DIM, which currently is controlled by a set of tangible buttons on the
steering wheel. To remove this complication, which the thesis call linguistic barrier, has
also become a goal expressed by the supervisors at Volvo. By installing and developing
touch interaction that controls the DIM, Volvo hopes to create a more fluent and easy-tolearn system between the two systems and therefore create a more secure and enjoyable
driving experience.
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