We are dedicated to our motto 'We drive innovation,’ which is why, in addition to our work on commercial projects and business demonstrations, we are glad to engage in research studies led by academic institutions in partnership with other forward-thinking businesses. We have recently concluded one such project – the AMICI project (Adaptive Multimodal In-car Interaction) – a partially publicly funded (thanks to Business Finland) research endeavor led by the University of Tampere in Finland.
Multimodal refers to a combination of methods through which a car communicates with a user, including visual (information displayed on screens), audio, and haptics (user interface responding to touch, such as vibrations). The primary motivation behind the project was to create optimized interaction systems that deliver essential information to the driver without causing distractions. Research and advancements aimed at enhancing the efficiency of these systems constituted the primary goal.
The project identified several key challenges, including information overload, carsharing, semi-autonomous driving, and an aging population, which drove the urgent need for research. Siili Auto’s primary contribution to the project was the MESA demonstrator: a full-featured multi-modal infotainment Human-Machine Interface (HMI). Subsequently, Tampere University utilized it to conduct a comprehensive User Experience Study with a diverse test group in their driving simulator laboratory. The data collected from these tests was promptly analyzed, leading to improvements implemented in later versions of the MESA UI, which were then retested.
The user interface was developed using Qt technology, enabling us to achieve an impressive effect praised by study participants as „highly appealing” and „visually clear and attractive.” The physical controller was provided by our partners at TactoTek.
We were thrilled to contribute to advancing understanding of in-car interactions. Additionally, we’ve collected a remarkable volume of data and ideas for enhancements, which we believe will enable us to develop even better, more exciting, efficient, and safer HMIs for our clients.
