Detaching from the Windshield: Augmented Reality Interfaces for Infotainment in Fully Automated Vehicles

Fully automated vehicles (SAE Level 5) will eliminate the need for a human driver, allowing passengers to focus on non-driving activities, such as those provided by infotainment services. There has been previous research on the use of non-driving related content on windshield displays. However, the placement area is limited and the content is likely to be viewable only from a single viewpoint (perspective issues). Therefore, we propose to detach content from the windshield and instead use an augmented reality space to provide infotainment content to passengers. In a within-subject virtual reality user study (N=19), we examined how front seat passengers would place infotainment content windows (and with whatproperties) in the open space using controllers while seated in a fully automated vehicle (within-factor: seating position, driver’ or front passenger’s seat). We also looked at the similarities and differences based on sitting position (left or right). We found that most content was not placed on top of windows/the windshield, with the exception of video content, which raises the question of whether windshield displays are the right medium for fully automated vehicles. In addition, between 40 to 63% of content was placed in mirrored positions when comparing between seating positions.