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Socialising Autonomy
Project Type - Academic Thesis
Timeline - 1 Year (Jan 2019 - May 2020)
Role - Independent Project (Researcher and UX Designer)
Aim
Socialising Autonomy is a research thesis that investigates the safety and comfort of the passengers through a lens of proxemics in cross cultural context, when travelling in self-driving vehicles.
"Humans have an innate distancing mechanism, modified by culture, that helps to regulate contact in social situations - Edward T Hall
Journey & Why
Hall's Proximity Zones
Physical Gap
Drivers have different driving patterns based on where they are, broadly based on their culture. The proximity difference between the vehicles can be clearly seen in the two extreme cultures - India & the USA.
Concern
How the personal proximity zones will be affected when travelling in automated vehicles?
Will the proximity zones be standard all across the globe?
Process
Primary Research
Generative Research Method - 32 User Journey's with participants in real driving scenarios
Participants Category in The United States/ India
Private vehicle owners
Participants visiting USA/India
Shared Vehicle
Experienced Drivers
New Drivers
Vehicle Type - Sedan's
Vehicle Type - Suv's
Uber/Lyft
Buses/Metro
Rented Vehicle
Sociopetal Spaces as vehicle interiors
Designed to bring people together and promote interaction
Sociofugal Spaces as Other vehicles
Designed to maintain individual’s privacy in an environment
Primary Research - India
Primary Research - USA
Insights - India
Insights - USA
Ideation
Focus Area
Design Concept
Designing invisible proximity zones which impacts individuals comfort and safety level.
Developed a model that quantifies proximity zones for autonomous vehicles in India and the USA.
Communicating that model through VR and other designed assets.
Prototyping - Intersections
Replicated scaled intersection and traffic flow - designed in Unity
ITO Intersection- Delhi, India
Raymond/Colorado Intersection - Pasadena, USA
Scenario - USA
Participants - 20 (6F/14M)
Age group - 21 - 64 years
Time - 40 - 45 minutes/participant
Scenario - India
Participants - 12 (4F/8M)
Age group - 22 - 35 years
Time - 50 - 60 minutes/participant
Dynamic proximity zones for the United States
Dynamic proximity zones for India
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