Lunis

An AR assistant for stressed-out novice drivers, providing non-invasive support to lower stress levels.

Skills

After Effects, Speculative Design, Concept, Research, Video Editing, Team Happiness, UX Design

Team

Carlo Mailänder, Evelyn Gariung

Supervision

David Osswald, Maurice Rio

Duration

Dec. 2021 - Feb. 2022

Category

University Project

The idea

We've all had that moment while driving when we think, "Shit, was that correct?" With experience, drivers gain confidence, but for novice drivers, these moments can be devastating, leading to hectic maneuvers, incorrect behavior, and even crashes. Many novice drivers experience moments of uncertainty while driving, which can result in stress and potentially dangerous maneuvers. We aimed to help novice drivers during these critical moments by providing support that enhances their confidence and safety on the road, without creating dependency on our system.

What we did

Understand

We first sought to understand the psychological reactions of humans in stressful situations. We consulted a psychologist and learned how stress responses work. When faced with a situation, our mind evaluates whether it’s neutral, negative, or positive. If deemed negative, it assesses whether we have the resources (skills, knowledge, or experience) to handle it. Lacking resources triggers stress.

Identify

We identified key stress indicators such as heart rate, sweat, eye movement, grip strength, and head position. Using sensors embedded in different areas of the car, these parameters are monitored, and an AI system assesses the driver’s stress level based on these indicators. The AI evaluates the overall situation by combining different values and peaks, determining whether the driver is stressed and providing the necessary support.

Implement

We explored different ways to deliver these resources and incorporated insights from our psychological research into various phases of our concept. The most crucial aspect is to provide resources that help drivers reassess the situation with the new support provided.

Where we ended up

We developed Lunis, a non-invasive support system for novice drivers.

Active support

Lunis provides real-time guidance through AR projections, helping drivers tackle stressful situations without creating dependency. The AR projections provide necessary information to reframe the situation as a challenge rather than a threat, thereby reducing stress and allowing the driver to focus on handling the situation.

Passive support

Once the situation is handled, Lunis enters the second stage of support, calming the user after a stressful event. The system provides subliminal aid with calming scents or lights that trigger relaxation responses in the body.

Reflection

Post-drive, Lunis encourages reflection on stressful situations, recording data for review (in compliance with data security laws). This reflection helps drivers learn and improve their responses in the future. By recording and reviewing stressful situations, drivers can gain insights into their reactions and develop better coping strategies, fostering long-term improvement in driving skills and confidence. This post-drive reflection aims to create a learning curve for drivers so that they eventually won’t need Lunis anymore.

We chose this non-invasive support solution so users can learn using our system without major anxieties while driving, and avoid creating dependency on the system.

What I learned

This project underscored the importance of a well-structured team and the ability to maintain an overview of ongoing activities. I acquired technical skills such as masking and tracking in After Effects, as well as concept creation skills grounded in research. Additionally, I developed interpersonal skills in interviewing, user research, and team management, both emotionally and structurally.

Project insights

Some impressions of the project and progress.

Any questions or interested in a coffee catch-up? Email me or message me on LinkedIn.

©2024 Philipp Däschle. All rights reserved

Any questions or interested in a coffee catch-up? Email me or message me on LinkedIn.

©2024 Philipp Däschle. All rights reserved

Any questions or interested in a coffee catch-up? Email me or message me on LinkedIn.

©2024 Philipp Däschle. All rights reserved

Any questions or interested in a coffee catch-up? Email me or message me on LinkedIn.

©2024 Philipp Däschle. All rights reserved