Automotive Enhanced Vision Systems: Issues Arising from Placing Users in the Loop

Speaker
Thomas Seder
Research and Development, General Motors

When
-

Where
Newell-Simon Hall 1305 (Michael Mauldin Auditorium)

Description

Enhanced Vision System (EVS) designers leverage transparent display technology to create a rendered world-real world fusion that improves a driver’s ability to perceive the real world. The purpose of overlaying sensor information onto a driver’s view of the external world is to improve their situation awareness. For instance, EVS visual can highlight relevant landmarks, or provide a driver with night vision. In aviation, applications such as these have proven to increase pilot situational awareness and assist flight task performance, making them a firmly established flight deck technology. Similar technologies hold the promise of bringing parallel benefits to the everyday driver. However, EVS for cars is currently a nascent technology. In this presentation, I will describe many of the core and enabling technologies of a unique Automotive EVS system. I will also show several concept applications, and I will discuss some difficult driver-system interaction issues that emerge when EVS is applied to cars.

Speaker's Bio

Tom is the Lab Group Manager of the Human Machine Interface group within the Vehicle Development Research Lab at GM. He is responsible for developing next generation interfaces that enable safer, more efficient and pleasurable human interactions with GM vehicle interiors. This technical domain is comprised of User Centered Design process development, use of Design Language for brand differentiation and harmonious experience, in addition to the traditional focus of information management, display and control, and user human factors/usability testing.

In addition to holding a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Northwestern University, Tom has an MBA from the University of Iowa. He began his career at the Rockwell Science Center where he developed high energy density materials for use as propellants and chemical laser fuels. From there he transferred to Rockwell Collins to lead organizations in the development of avionics HMI and display technologies. There, he ascended to the position of Air Transport Director of Technology & Product Planning. Tom then joined Guardian Industries Science Center as the Director of Optical Film Technology, leading an organization charged with developing thin film optics technologies and products. Finally, he was the Director of Advanced Technology at Guardian prior to accepting his current position at GM in 2006.