Week 02: Autonomous Car, A Movable Space

Jay Huh
Jay Huh
Sep 5, 2018 · 3 min read

Task: Choose one (or more) models to think through how a person might relate to something that an interaction designer might create

Is space movable? I think so. The best example is a car. Transportation carries its own space for drivers or passengers in which they can enjoy various activities while moving; listening to music, talking with friends, or even sleeping. However, transportation has been mainly regarded as a means of movement (or maybe a representation of the owner’s wealth or characteristics) rather than movable space.

Distinctive Experience (Bosch Autonomous Car Concept Image)

I believe that the development of an autonomous car, however, will begin to bring change. It will provide a completely distinctive boarding experience. (I tried not to use ‘driving experience’ because actually, it drives itself.) Free from driving seems to liberalize the inside space of a car; it can be shifted into a bedroom, movie theater, karaoke, infirmary, restaurant, or whatever users want. From this perspective, it is necessary to consider architectural approach when we design an autonomous vehicle and this is why I tried to apply Stewart’s concepts to it.

(Temporary Site,) Style, Spec, Services, and Space Plan

Layers of Autonomous Transportation

Stewart’s architecture layers might work well on an autonomous car since both have similar features, but some revisions were needed; ‘Eternal’ Site does not exist when it comes to defining transportation because it moves around. So I changed it to the Temporary Site; Structure and Skin can be replaced by Spec and Style, respectively.

All of these layers might get a different level of interactions in each stage of user experience. Style and Spec(speed, engine sound, or other special functions will be examples) are one of the most crucial factors when users make a purchase decision because they are directly related to representing their preference and style. However, Services and Space Plan will become more important while riding, since an autonomous car can make it possible for users to be disconnected from outside. All windows can be blinded or even disappear which let inner space become a private room; it will be filled with space configuration and provided services, just like rooms in architecture. Thus, these two layers will decide the biggest parts of the boarding experience of autonomous transportation.

Temporary Site is the most complicated part as it keeps the change. People sometimes might want to interact with the outer environment(light, wind, weather, or scenery) rather than being isolated. I did not find any specific idea about how they relate to passengers of autonomous, but it seems true that they also significantly effects onboarding experience.

Cars with architectural features or Architectures with mobility (Alpha Tiny House(left), Tiny House on Wheels(right))

The point for this perspective is that it will broaden our options by letting us realize the possibility of applying various Services and Space Plan features to transportation, which are normally used in architectures. Furthermore, this approach will connect cars and users more closer by considering users’ diverse activities.

Jay Huh

Written by

Jay Huh

@CMU MDes Candidate | http://jayhuh.com

51701_MDES/MPS Seminar I

A course by Molly Wright Steenson | Carnegie Mellon University | Fall 2018

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