Design for Perception Toolkit
Creators: name: Fjollë Novakazi
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: driving automation
design tool
human-centred design
automated vehicles
cognitive engineering
human factors
design method
mental model
perception

description: Background
The design of driving automation systems (DAS) presents a number of challenges as the complexity of the driver-vehicle interaction rises with increasing levels of vehicle automation. Among the difficulties faced by designers is the ambiguity of levels of driving automation, which leads to user mode confusion. To satisfy drivers' needs from a human-centered perspective, designers must comprehend how drivers perceive driving automation. The absence of a structured tool or method for effectively addressing user requirements in DAS design creates a void in the field. This work presents a design tool that facilitates the creation of driving automation systems based on user perception and consequent understanding.To accomplish the objective, a participatory research study approach involving a series of workshops and co-design activities was employed. The tool was subsequently evaluated through interviews with the study's participants.The results demonstrate that the Design for Perception toolkit enables designers to: (i) explore potential solutions using a systematic approach; (ii) identify areas for improvement by applying the user's perspective; and (iii) ideate and evaluate design decisions using a structured approach. Thus, the Design for Perception toolkit offers a structured aid for designers to effectively navigate the complexities of the development of DAS, ensuring that driver's needs are addressed from a human-centered perspective.
 
description: Brief Introduction to theToolkit
The Design for Perception toolkit aims to offer a framework that facilitates the systematic review of potential design solutions and the identification of areas needing improvement. In this context, one can identify requirements for a technical solution from the driver's perspective, as well as specify technical requirements and scenarios that must be addressed through design solutions like the graphical user interface, the vehicle's behaviour, and specific functionalities of the systems. Further, the toolkit addresses a range of usage scenarios that can aid in the assessment and examination of potential solutions. By taking a driver-centric approach to the design of DAS, it enables a thorough examination of user requirements and preferences, enabling the development of a solution that addresses the driver's needs.
The Design for Perception toolkit has two distinct variants, each presenting the same information in different formats, and tailored to correspond to various aims within a project. The two variants are (i) a Heuristic Checklist, and (ii) a Card Deck.The contents of the toolkit represent the different components of how the driver's perception shapes their understanding of DAS. The two components represented in the model are: (i) the aspects of the driver's understanding, including the context, the vehicle, and the driver; and (ii) the driver's perception, including perceptual sets and sensory information. A third part of the toolkit provides guiding questions corresponding to the different aspects and factors and aims to trigger a discussion and critical review of proposed design solutions. The two developed variants can be utilised either independently or in conjunction with one another throughout the entirety of the design phases.