On-wheel Finger Gesture Control for In vehicle Systems on Central Consoles

To reduce visual and biomechanical distractions when drivers interact with in-vehicle systems of the central console, we propose a new driver interface approach that integrates on-wheel gesture control and head-up display. We then verify its effectiveness based on experiments. In the proposed method, the most frequently used switches for the audio and air conditioner, located on the central console, are selected and displayed on the menu of a head-up display. The driver can use this display to turn the switches on/off, using a specific number of fingers while keeping both hands on the steering wheel. We compare the effectiveness of the traditional interface with that of the new interface based on objective measurements and subjective evaluations of the behaviors of the vehicle and driver. The results show that there are fewer visual and biomechanical distractions when drivers interact with the new in-vehicle interface compared with the traditional interface.