Designing for Dignity while Driving: Interaction Needs of Blind and Low-Vision Passengers in Fully Automated Vehicles

TL;DR

This study addresses how to design for dignity for BLV passengers in fully automated vehicles by conducting six on-road and in-lab focus groups with 16 participants and employing haptic probes. Through thematic analysis, the authors show that BLV riders enter with a baseline 'faith' in automation but require layered, actionable information, with voice as a preferred modality and haptics only when interpretable and context-appropriate. They propose a dignity-centered design framework across autonomy, cognitive load, competence, emotional/social fulfillment, and interdependence, offering concrete guidance for implementing non-visual HMIs that preserve dignity and independence. The work advances empirical knowledge about BLV user experiences in real driving conditions and provides practical guidelines to create trustworthy, dignified, and accessible FAVs that extend mobility and social participation for BLV communities.

Abstract

Fully automated vehicles (FAVs) hold promise for enhancing the mobility of blind and low-vision (BLV) individuals. To understand the situated interaction needs of BLV passengers, we conducted six on-road, and in-lab focus groups with 16 participants, immersing them in real-world driving conditions. Our thematic analysis reveals that BLV participants express a high initial 'faith' in FAVs, but require layered, value-sensitive information during the ride to cultivate trust. The participants' modality preference for voice suggests re-evaluating the role of haptics for BLV users in FAVs. Our findings show the importance of a respectful interaction design in FAVs that both address BLV users' mobility challenges and uphold their dignity. While others have advocated for a dignity lens, our contribution lies in grounding this framework in empirical findings and unpacking what it means to design for dignity in the context of FAVs.

Figures (8)

• Figure 1: Schematic of people mover for the on-road focus group
• Figure 2: Haptic probes based on the six haptic interaction modalities. a) Schematic view of probes: (1) shape-changing or deformable interfaces, (2) mid-air haptics, (3) thermal tactile, (4) surface friction and skin stretch, (5) force feedback, and (6) vibrotactile. b) the probes given to participants.
• Figure 3: Map of the on-road route and passing areas.
• Figure 4: Affinity diagramming in Miro.
• Figure 5: The generated themes and sub-themes.