Invisible Challenges, Visible Solutions: Human Factors Vehicle Design Considerations for Emotional Disabilities

Emotional disabilities (e.g., depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder) are among the most prevalent disabilities worldwide, affecting cognitive abilities (e.g., attention, executive function) and somatic symptoms (e.g., gastrointestinal disorders, changes in vision and hearing, and chronic pain). Despite advancements in disability-inclusive design, emotional disabilities remain largely overlooked. This research, supported in part by the EcoCAR Electric Vehicle (EV) Challenge, addresses this gap by presenting design considerations for emotional disabilities through the development of HarmonIQ. HarmonIQ, developed by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) and Bethune-Cookman University (BCU), is a user-centered, biometric-authentication-based vehicle customization system to enhance the driving experience. With the appropriate design considerations, HarmonIQ could be a form of assistive technology (AT) that meets the needs of drivers with emotional disabilities. Therefore, a survey was conducted to gather insights from drivers with emotional disabilities to inform design directions. Data was collected from 47 participants, capturing AT usage, vehicle usage habits, and opinions on biometrics. Most respondents reported no usage of AT, suggesting a lack of interventions tailored for this group, particularly in vehicles. The results from this research were used to guide the design process and highlight human factors design considerations for emotional disabilities including minimal complexity, interface guidance, progressive disclosure, and supportive language. The considerations were translated into tailored features for drivers with emotional disabilities, including high-contrast displays to reduce visual strain, memory settings for vehicle features to reduce mental workload, and biometric authentication to minimize login frustration. Although HarmonIQ aims to address the daily challenges faced by individuals with varying disabilities, these considerations expand its ability to support emotional disabilities by helping to ensure that the system better reflects the cognitive, sensory, and emotional needs of this often-overlooked user population.