Advancements in the automotive and creative industries have led to the continual evolution of the driving activity “from [a] physical to cognitive effort” [1]. Consequently, this shift has allowed drivers to pick up additional distractions such as cell phones and other handheld devices that regulatory bodies deem a major source of driver distraction [2]. As governments internationally have increased regulations, companies have answered the mandate for hands-free infotainment solutions with systems such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, there are still concerns amongst the research community that these voice-based technologies create driver distraction through increased cognitive demand. Therefore, the research outlined in this abstract build on related work and suggests that a simulator-based method for testing primary task performance is a viable research strategy. Further, this strategy measures cognitive demand when evaluating systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Before beginning my User Experience Design MSc at the University of Brighton in the UK, I worked for several years as an industrial designer in Austin, Texas. There I was able to develop professional experience with research, branding, and manufacturing processes. Now that I am shifting career paths towards digital product design, I have focused my master’s research on vehicle infotainment technology as well as creating gamified learning experiences.