Details

The laboratory in brief

The usability laboratory is 81 m² in size and offers room for our research. It is equipped with modern technology for usability engineering as well as a research vehicle, an Audi A8 long version, which is permanently located within the laboratory. Special attention was paid to a good illumination of the room and noise insulation

The equipment in detail

Next to the vehicle Audi A8 and the usability research simulator (URS), three video cameras (DV), two high speed cameras and two wireless microphones provide the hardware for our research within the usability laboratory. The software consists of a programm for rapid prototyping of operating elements and a software for workplace engineering. Furthermore, a sound laboratory, a mutable seat box, a variable industrial workplace as well as various physiological measurement technology are part of the equipment.

What is 'usability'?

The term 'usability' is used to describe the degree to which products are userfriendly and easy to handle. In the field of driver assistant systems, this mainly concerns the optimal adjustment of technological systems to the physical, cognitive and mental abilities of the driver.

What is being researched within the usability laboratory?

Generally, the laboratory is used to do research on the usability of driver assistant systems. Test persons are being watched applying the systems in order to identify potential weak spots. Therefore, we measure for instance the operating time, number or sort of mistakes made as well as the distraction from the actual driving task.
With the equipment measuring pysiological features we can obtain data for instance about skin temperature or the line of vision. By means of a electromyography (EMG) we can measure the muscle activity. Additionally, analyses of the backbone as well as measurements of the flicker fusion rate or of ambient conditions (sound, climate, illumination, vibratios) are possible. Such measurements are of use for gaining information about the subjective stress arising while using a driver assistant system.