Beyond Driving: Envisioning Activities in Future Autonomous Vehicles through Experience-Centered Design

2026-09-24

AI Summary

This study addresses the limitations of existing research on non-driving activities (NDAs) in fully autonomous driving, which often overlooks the influence of diverse scenarios and struggles to capture dynamic contexts through traditional methods. To bridge this gap, we propose an experience-centered research framework that reconceptualizes NDAs not as isolated time-fillers but as dynamic sequences shaped by pre- and post-trip contexts. Methodologically, this work integrates participatory design, diary studies, narrative scripting, and mixed reality technologies to conduct a comprehensive investigation. The findings reveal user preferences for in-vehicle activities and their subjective significance, thereby reshaping the conceptualization of vehicles as sociotechnical systems. Furthermore, this research validates the effectiveness of the proposed approach in connecting present-day user experiences with future mobility scenarios.

Abstract

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are poised to fundamentally alter personal transportation, offering occupants the freedom to engage in various non-driving-related activities (NDRAs). However, our current understanding of how people might actually use this time in fully autonomous vehicles (FAVs) is limited. Traditional research methods often struggle to capture the influence of diverse travel circumstances and purposes when exploring future scenarios. This paper introduces experience-centered design (ECD) as an approach to investigate potential NDRAs within FAVs by examining the intricate connections between individuals' daily routines, specific travel contexts, and the activities they might undertake in transit. Through a multi-phase study employing participatory techniques that facilitated narrative construction and exploration, including diary studies, scenario scripting, and mixed reality (MR) enactments, we enabled participants to ground speculative future scenarios in their own lived experiences. This process yielded nuanced insights into preferences and behaviors concerning potential NDRAs, alongside the underlying subjective meanings and sociotechnical considerations. Our findings lead us to conceptualize NDRAs not as isolated instances of "travel time use," but as dynamic sequences of interrelated activities deeply shaped by pre- and post-journey contexts. The effectiveness of our ECD approach in bridging current lived experiences with future scenarios was crucial for uncovering these insights. Ultimately, this study reconceptualizes AVs as complex sociotechnical systems that actively mediate human activity and interaction, suggesting a fundamental shift in their role within the urban fabric.

Problem

• Autonomous Vehicles
• Non-Driving-Related Activities
• Future Scenarios
• Travel Context

Innovation

• Experience-Centered Design
• Autonomous Vehicles
• Non-Driving-Related Activities
• Mixed Reality
• Sociotechnical Systems