Assessing the influence of show, don’t tell principle on external human-machine interfaces across cultures

Abstract

Together with the shift towards green renewable energy sources, the automotive industry is currently witnessing a rapid advancement in the context of autonomous vehicle technology. In this setting, the way in which the autonomous vehicle interacts with the vulnerable road users will be indispensable both in terms of safety and acceptance. Therefore, understanding the societal perceptions and cultural influences on the external human-machine interfaces (eHMIs) has become significant. This research investigates the intersection of social constructivism and the show, don’t tell principle within the context of eHMIs for autonomous vehicles. Grounded in the hypothesis of social constructivism and technological insights from the show, don’t tell principle, the study aims to analyse the alignment between the current theoretical frameworks and the practical design solutions. Specifically, it explores how cultural factors impact the acceptance and effectiveness of eHMIs among pedestrians. In order to achieve autonomous driving with minimal or zero human intervention, seamless integration of these vehicles into complex urban traffic is required. This research suggests that the development of culturally sensitive design solutions may facilitate the harmonious co-existence of autonomous vehicles and vulnerable road users in urban landscapes.