Potentials and challenges of adaptive human-machine interfaces in commercial vehicles: results of focus groups with professional truck drivers and experts

Abstract In recent years, vehicles have become increasingly intelligent and context aware. Studies in the passenger car and digital sectors show that systems which adapt to different situations and users can improve usability and safety. To identify the potential of adaptive human-machine interfaces (HMI) in the truck sector, this work presents three exploratory focus groups conducted with truck drivers and industry experts, involving a total of N = 19 participants. Using qualitative content analysis, problem areas were identified to be addressed through adaptive functions. These problems included individual driver needs as well as complex menu structures and challenges in navigation and logistics. The proposed solutions, such as personalization, will be examined in more detail in further research. Furthermore, the study revealed challenges associated with the implementation of adaptive interfaces in trucks, particularly patronization through technology. Practical Relevance : Existing adaptive solutions predominantly concern passenger car and digital domains and fail to take into account the particular requirements of the commercial vehicle sector. A commercial vehicle is a complex workplace, where drivers often operate under time pressure. Therefore, these insights provide a foundation for the user-centered design of future adaptive display and control concepts in the commercial vehicle domain.