I own a car and I drive it nearly every day. Not too long from now the car will be the one driving me. How will we interact differently with cars in the future? What user interface (UI) controls can vanish? Are we going to miss them, or is it good riddance?

1. THINGS ABOUT
HUMAN UI THAT
WILL change forever
IN SELF-DRIVING
CARS
10
Ken Tabor

2. I own a car and I drive it nearly every day.
Not too long from now the car will be the
one driving me.
@KenTabor

3. Future Ken will still own a car, he might
operate the car, but the days dedicated to
humans driving are numbered.
@KenTabor

4. How will we interact differently with cars
in the future? What user interface (UI)
controls can vanish? Are we going to miss
them, or is it good riddance?
@KenTabor

5. It’s going to feel very different being a
passenger in the driver’s seat!
@KenTabor

6. Headlamps, turn indicators, and brake lights are
completely unnecessary. They signal intended
movement choices between human drivers.
There’s no reason having signal lights when computers
control cars. They’re antiquated leftovers from obsolete
biological visual systems (aka “eyeballs.”)
1. Turning off Signals
@KenTabor

7. 2. Love an Extra Glovebox
There’s no need for a space-hogging steering wheel in
a self-driving car. Get rid of it! Reclaim all of that space
as storage for the primary operator. Keep all the snacks
and sun-glasses you want!
Scratch that. Give me a shelf for my laptop. Offer a
power connection. Activate wifi. Turn the car into the
ultimate docking station for my laptop/tablet/phone.
@KenTabor

8. 3. Treating Windows
Windows are a traditional, vital, user interface.
Unobstructed views allow human drivers to see where
they’re going. We won’t be needing those anymore.
Decorate your windows! Your living room has shades,
curtains, or shutters. Bring that personal style into cars.
Make the windows stained glass and beautiful!
Do we even need big sheets of glass surrounding the
car? Let’s make them touch-screens instead. @KenTabor

9. 4. Gauging Interest
Speed, RPMs, engine heat, and other dashboard
gauges are obsolete when people stop driving. Figure
out what’s useful to human riders. Show more of that!
Actionable info: “Are we there yet?”, “Does my car
need a charge?”, “What’s interesting nearby?” Lead
with a consumer-grade user experience!
@KenTabor

10. 5. Car Seating
Power seats contribute to a fantastic UX. They have
deep configuration for your comfort. Move forward and
backward, tilt up and down, and adjust the angle.
Include turning the seat clockwise. When I’m in “the
driver's seat” of a self-driving car I want to spin around.
Then I can fully engage passengers in the backseat.
Human-centered design for the win!
@KenTabor

11. 6. Stalking Control
Stalks. Two arms sticking out of the steering wheel. They
lift up and drop down. Pull forward and push backward.
Ends turn around. Always partially obstructed, and at
times totally out of view. Littered by icons requiring
interpretation, and small text demanding concentration.
UI overload! UX fail! Get rid of stalks. We’ll never miss
the dozen horrible micro-interactions.
@KenTabor

12. 7. Holding the Cup
Water, coffee, sodas - we drink plenty sitting in cars. You
can never have too many cup holders. Most cars have a
few low in the center. Where they can’t be a distraction.
Raise them up. Feature them. Right at eye level within
reach. Fit a lot more than just a cup: electric razor,
cellphone, eye liner, toothbrush. Stuff we want!
@KenTabor

13. 8. Unsticking Gear Sticks
I owned a 350Z. It was manual and shifting through its
gears was a blast. Eventually I traded it in for an
automatic. Why in the world does it have a gear stick?
Exchange the stick for two buttons. One labeled
“forward”, and one labeled “backward.” Let it go into
park when I stop and turn off the car.
@KenTabor

14. 9. Considering the Center
You’ll find a floor-mounted console between the front
seats. It serves to divide driver and passenger while
providing modest storage.
Rip it out! I want the space back when my car drives
itself. I’ll gain leg room so I can swivel around and talk
to people riding in the back seat.
@KenTabor

15. 10. Chasing that Feeling
We’re in a car culture. People grow up with them, buy
them, customize, and name them. Saying goodbye to
human-driven automobiles will be difficult.
Gear-heads might get their need for speed at private
driving reserves. Members-only clubs could offer the
thrill of old-school driving: dirt bikes, ATVs, Jeeps,
snowmobiles. Open-air and dangerous? Yes please!
@KenTabor

16. What will we call the next generation of
cars? Automobiles! They’ll continue being
mobile, and even more automatic.
ƞ @KenTabor

17. Where will our first autonomous-only
town be? Who will forbid human driven
cars? For the safety of families!
@KenTabor

18. Ages for operating self-driving cars will
open up. Children as young as eight, and
seniors well past retirement, can navigate
a clean computer interface.
@KenTabor

19. Humans traveling in self-driving cars will
choose touch screen over voice control.
Passengers want to talk with one another,
listen to music, or silently work.
@KenTabor

20. Your self-driving car will pick you up curbside
and that’s fantastic. How to recognize it
from all the others? Design it! Choose its
color and style matching your personality.
@KenTabor

21. It’s going to feel very different being a
passenger in the driver’s seat!
What do you think?
@KenTabor

22. Get More from Me
@KenTabor
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