BIOAUTO

BIOAUTO. The main objective of the research programme was to explore the possibility of industrially viable applications of renewable resource based materials for automotive interior components. Vehicle interiors are important for pride of professional drivers and for their daily well-being, but it was not known which qualities of surface materials they appreciate in today’s vehicles, which materials will be valued by them in the future and to which degree ecological materials may be visible in their real qualities. Our study aimed at identifying professional drivers’ positively perceived qualities of existing and future hard surface materials of vehicle interiors for design of project demonstrators. The mediating tool “User Compass Chart” was developed for studies of values beyond material aspects, and material surfaces perceived as natural and professional could be identified. The study was carried out together with Innovative Design at Chalmers University of Technology. The BIOAUTO project was fianced by Vinnova, The Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems and Swedish automotive industry and their suppliers.

Publications
Sperling L, Eriksson P, 2005. The User Compass Chart – a new tool for exploring emotions related to existing and future product qualities. ENGAGE Newsletter 2, 2005.

Sperling L, Eriksson P, 2006. Exploring driver’s experiences of material qualities in present and future interiors of cars and trucks. Five pages. In P.D. Bust (Ed.) Contemporary Ergonomics. Taylor & Francis.

• Print version