The last years have seen an increasing amount of innovations in the functionality of car electronics (e.g. advanced driver assistant systems (ADAS) and in-vehicle infotainment systems (IVIS)). These electrical systems are not reserved for premium cars anymore, but additionally reach mid-size, compact, and subcompact cars.
The growing number of functionalities in these cars entails increasing amount of interfaces, which may confuse, overload, or annoy the driver. Accompanying this, there is a trend towards the integration of capacitive touchscreens as user interfaces. These touchscreens were implemented first in consumer electronics and had a substantial impact on the way in which users interact with technology. This in turn has led to an increased user driven demand for the technology to be implemented in other domains, even in safety-critical ones like the automotive area.
Capacitive touchscreens have certain drawbacks in their distraction potential and their usability, leading to safety-critical situations and negative user feedback.
This paper will present a problem-driven approach towards touch input and a range of technical solution possibilities. The focus lies on the generation of a holistic touch experience: auditory, visual, and haptic feedbacks are combined with accurate force sensing for activation and deactivation. The reader will be given an overview over previous subjective and objective user research on force-sensing switching technologies. Additionally, he will be provided with applications that are able to fulfill the user needs of different vehicle classes. Although different in design, all applications aim at a common goal: maximizing driver safety, minimizing distraction and frustration, and enhancing the driving experience.
