A Framework for Proactive Interaction in Automated Vehicles

We find that when goals are misaligned, communicating contextual awareness decreases user experience and acceptance. As a result, if alignment of (immediate) goals is not possible—such as when drivers want to reduce walking distance but the closest parking lot is full—systems should exercise care in communicating their situation awareness, as this can reinforce users’ negative perceptions. Dispositional traits such as propensity to trust and locus of control do predict users’ trust, distrust, and experience in our scenarios.

We also find that participants’ primary rationales for accepting the system’s decision are largely similar (saving time, trusting, and making sense) but rationales overall, especially for rejecting the system’s decision, are more varied than expected and often based on experience. Therefore, systems that look to personalize decision-making—such as whether to proactively execute versus merely suggest an action—could take into account users’ dispositional traits and other preferences, such as those as exemplified by these rationales.</p>