Aure is an augmented reality Heads Up Display (HUD) that increases a driver’s attention and decreases human error using Ford smart technologies. It provides you with the most reliable, efficient way to drive by taking in signs, traffic warnings, and hazards before displaying the information in easily digestible graphics on the windscreen. The ford smart technologies we used are as followed: Lane Keeping Aid, Traffic Sign Recognition and Active City Stop.

Enhancing what already exists is a large part of interaction design (IXD), So we took existing road signage and redesigned their appearance to increase clarity and identifiability. This can directly influence congestion as reactions to on road traffic is improved.

For every 50 meters of driving there are over 120 different stimuli your eyes are exposed to on the road alone, the human brain can only process 15 of these. Not to mention other vehicles and nature obstructing vision of road signs. We utilised Ford’s Traffic Sign Recognition technology and TomTom radio frequencies to extract data and display hazards and road instructions on screen to raise the driver’s awareness of the road. This way, no signs or hazards are missed.

A main issue for drivers is speeding. Going over the limit is not only dangerous for the driver but for others on the road. Understanding this, we looked at ensuring that the speed limit is constantly present on the user’s windscreen. Quite often, in 30mph zones, there is no sign telling you the speed. It’s in these areas that drivers are regularly caught speeding. Also, new roads and limits being altered can cause confusion, but with a constant presence of the limit on the screen this issue is eliminated.

My role in this project was heavily based around programming and visualisation. I took charge of the user interface and the user experience of the project. I created the on screen display, including the iconography and and lane tracking. I used software such as after effects, illustrator, photoshop, and others to ensure the UI & UX was of a high standard.

I also took charge of creating a design fiction, a piece that could demonstrate the user benefits without the need of installing the piece into a real car environment. It was used as way of exploring a new design space and asking questions about alternative methods of interactions. It was designed to include sections that look as though from a car manual - a pre existing vehicle with the Aure system installed as standard.