In-Car Machine-Human Interaction: How to Couple Vehicle Technologies with User-Centered Design

This paper intends to describe how the driving' and driver' modelling in automotive applications could be a way to improve - in the meanwhile - safety and a wider range of information available for the drivers. the first part, the paper describes different design approaches, mentioned as guideline for the promotion of innovative dashboards. The first approach has been called Additive Approach and it foresees specific devices per each single and/or group of drivers' functions have been included into the cars' dashboard. The second approach, called Integrated Approach, has been characterised by a smaller number of controls aimed at managing a wider amount of functions. But the design approach which concretely points in favour of the trade-off mentioned above (more information for a safer driving) has been called Adaptive Approach and it is based on the assumption that the new on-board functions can be a benefit to the driver only if they are issued in accordance with the driver's current status and the external environment condition. the second part, different models to detect drivers' status and driving' conditions are briefly reviewed. More attention is dedicated to the integrated approached depicted in two European Commission (EC) funded projects, namely: COMUNICAR and EUCLIDE. Both projects are completed and have attempted to merge the two models into a unique index. Pros and cons of this approach are discussed. Finally, the method that is followed in a new research project, called AIDE, to implement the adaptive approach principles is analyzed mainly from a theoretical point of view.JRC.G.4-Maritime affair