During the last few years, we have witnessed advances in the implementation of new technologies in the automotive industry, for example, in the design and development of user interfaces for driver and passenger communication and entertainment, known in the automotive industry as “infotainment systems”. These new interfaces have increasing capabilities for processing, storage, communication, and interaction. As a result, a wide variety of technologies have been developed in the past decades. These technological changes have created a new communication environment between the driver, passengers, and car, allowing the development of applications with a wide range of interaction possibilities, which leads to new challenges regarding design, quality, utility, usability, and accessibility. On the other hand, more and more people, drive as a major part of their lives. At the same time, universal access to information and entertainment has become widespread with the rise of mobile computing. The “infotainment system” is related to the fact that both work and play reside in the same devices. Through “infotainment systems” it is possible to view relevant information on the operation of the vehicle or provide entertainment capabilities through its applications. Infotainment inherently demands a user’s attention; what good is information or entertainment if the user is not aware of it? Some types of infotainment applications require more attention than others. Driving also demands the user’s attention, with very serious consequences possible if that attention lapses. Because of this, there has been some concern about the design, development, and use of infotainment devices in cars. Researchers, for example, have tested different user interface designs to find one that demands the least cognitive load while still allowing the user to perform the desired task efficiently. Driving is a major part of many people’s lives. Most people who own a car use it on a daily basis to work, visit friends and family, and many other tasks. Mobility is a desirable luxury, and so it is understandable that many people invest in automobiles. Driving is referred to as the primary task, while interacting with the infotainment system is referred to as the secondary task. This Special Issue will deal with some of the most important aspects related to the design of interfaces for infotainment systems in cars and the development of technology for intelligent vehicles.
Keywords: infotainment systems; human-computer interaction; automobile; intelligent vehicles.