for Wards 10 Best User Experience Awards
Winners to be presented during WardsAuto UX Conference Oct. 4, honored vehicles on display
From Drew Winter, Director of Content, WardsAuto:Like it or not, a new type of consumer is having a profound impact on the automotive industry.
This consumer isn’t necessarily a Millennial; it is anyone who owns a smartphone. The Internet of Things is changing how everyone, everywhere is interacting with the world.
Most of these connected consumers still like cars and enjoy driving, but they now expect vehicles to integrate their mobile devices, or better still, amplify the powers of those devices inside the car with bigger and better displays, more features, more apps and more customized experiences.
Consumer electronics and Silicon Valley have introduced drivers to the concept of having a great interactive “User Experience.” Boiled down to basics, a great UX translates into advanced technology that is simple, attractive and easy for ordinary people to use and understand.
Independent surveys tell us poor user experiences with vehicle infotainment systems are the biggest killer of buyer satisfaction, while a great UX differentiates products and attracts new customers.
Looking at the advertising for the latest Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz E300 and a host of other new vehicles, you would hardly know they have great engines and dynamic performance. Instead the focus is on advanced reconfigurable displays, connectivity and machine intelligence.
In recognition of this revolution in vehicle design, WardsAuto is adding another “10 Best” to its repertoire of testing and event schedules. We have been testing engines for the Wards 10 Best Engines list for 22 years, and we’ve been evaluating vehicle cabins for Wards 10 Best Interiors for six years.
Now, we have just begun testing for Wards 10 Best UX. We’re working our way down a list of the industry’s 28 latest vehicles, from ultra-luxury models such as the Bentley Bentayga to affordable family vehicles such as the Chevrolet Malibu and Chrysler Pacifica and everything in between.
We will consider simple things, such as how easy it is to pair systems with phones and how intuitive controls are, to more complex evaluations regarding the design of displays and graphics, navigation features and head-up displays.
And, because advanced driver-assist features such as lane-keeping, smart cruise control and others are becoming an integral part of the driving experience, we are including these systems as part of our UX evaluations. Family friendliness is another key priority, because a good UX now can make or break a family vacation.
So we are fastening our seatbelts (General Motors’ Teen Driver Assist won’t play the radio unless you do) and hitting the road. The winners will be announced in early September, and we will recognize the winning teams with a special ceremony at the WardsAuto User Experience Conference Oct. 4 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, MI.
See the awards ceremony and the winners on display at Wards Auto UX! Register by the Early Registration Deadline of August 12 and save $100 off your attendance. CLICK HERE to sign up now!
ANNOUNCED PRESENTERS:Brad Gieske, User Experience Design Manager
FCA
Panel: Strategies for Branding Automotive UX
Tricia Hecker, Head of Connected Services
FCA
Panel: Where are Apps and Subscriber Services Taking Us Next?
Dan Ricci, Global Automotive Leader
IBM Cognitive Solutions
Panel: Machine Intelligence, Learning and Imaginary Friends
Jennifer Wahnschaff, Head of Instrumentation & Driver HMI, the Americas
Continental
Panel: Displays, HUDs and Augmented Reality
Johann "Hans" Hiebl,
Executive Vice President - Infotainment & Connectivity Business Unit
Continental
Panel: Strategies for Branding Automotive UX
James Farell, Director-Displays, Optics and Mechanical Product Development
Visteon Corporation
Panel: Displays, HUDs and Augmented Reality
Randy Meech, CEO
Mapzen
Panel: The Future of In-Car Mapping and Navigation
Alan Manna, Regional President for Car Multimedia
Bosch
Panel: Displays, HUDs and Augmented Reality
Dan Ward,
Co-Founder
Detroit Labs
Panel: Where are Apps and Subscriber Services Taking Us Next?
Taylor Blake, Machine Learning Expert
Pillar Technologies
Panel: Machine Intelligence, Learning and Imaginary Friends
Timothy Evavold,
Executive Director - Automotive
Covisint
Panel: Where are Apps and Subscriber Services Taking Us Next?
Jim Robnett, Vice President - Business Development
NNG North America
Panel: The Future of In-Car Mapping and Navigation
Kristin Kolodge, Executive Director of Driver Interaction and Human Machine Interface (HMI)
J.D. Power
Panel: What Do Future Car Buyers Really Want?
Mike VanNieuwkuyk, Vice President - Automotive
Nielsen
Panel: What Do Future Car Buyers Really Want?
Panel Seating is Limited. Register now to reserve your seats for the panels you want to see. Sign up now with early registration discount!
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE:
The WardsAuto User Experience Conference will review the current state of automaker and supplier efforts in UX. We will forecast technologies, design trends, materials and other factors just around the corner.
Join us for:
- Major keynotes from top OEMs and suppliers
- New technologies and insights from innovative suppliers
- The Wards 10 Best User Experience winning vehicles on display
- Peer networking - share insights with your colleagues and make new connections
- Panel discussions on many UX topics (see below)
AGENDA:
7:30 to 8:15 am - Registration/Breakfast/Networking
Pick up your badge, join us for continental breakfast, network with your peers and make new connections.
8:15 to 9:30 am - Breakout Sessions in Meeting Rooms
Choose one of three panel discussions featuring speakers from major automakers and suppliers:
Panel 1: What Do Future Car Buyers Really Want?
For decades consumers have been saying they want flying cars, but that’s pure fantasy. Now advancing technology is making truly futuristic features possible. Which ones are buyers really ready to accept and pay for?
Panel 2: Materials that Enable and Enhance UX
Unlike smartphones and other consumer electronics, we inhabit vehicles. That means comfort, textures, special fragrances and smells, and eliminating smudges and glare on screens, all become part of the user experience. Materials with embedded electronics and sensors also promise to play a major role in the user experience.
Panel 3: The Future of In-Car Mapping and Navigation
Mapping and navigation experts will explain how enhanced user experiences can enable in-car systems to stay relevant.
9:45 to 10:30 am - Morning Keynote Speaker
See our morning keynote address from a major industry figure, followed by Q&A. More details coming soon.
10:30 to 11:00 am - Networking Break
Chat with colleagues and visit our sponsor and exhibitor booths displaying their latest products, materials and technologies.
11:00 to 12:15 pm - Breakout Sessions in Meeting Rooms
Choose one of three panel discussions featuring speakers from major automakers and suppliers:
Panel 4: Strategies for Branding Automotive UX
Connectivity, infotainment and safety and security features offer automakers opportunities to form a special bond between vehicles and consumers. How can these tools be used to create a new and enduring brand DNA?
Panel 5: Elevating Mood, Promoting Health and WellnessPanelists discuss how future vehicles can enhance quality of life through everything from advanced ambient lighting to monitoring occupant status with biometrics and wearable technologies.
Panel 6: Displays, HUDs and Augmented Reality
These technologies are the tip of the spear for all automotive UX strategies. Where are they going? What will they do? How will they amaze us next?
12:30 to 1:15 pm - Lunch Join us in the ballroom for lunch with your colleagues, our speakers, sponsors and WardsAuto team members.
1:15 to 2:00 pm Wards 10 Best User Experience Awards Ceremony
We present our first annual awards recognizing the new model year vehicles with the best overall UX, determined by a panel of WardsAuto judges, as OEM design and UX team representatives will be called on stage to accept their award. Like Wards 10 Best Interiors, winning automakers are expected to send many members of their honored teams. Plus, vehicles will be on display inside the ballroom all day for attendees to see their advanced UX features.
2:00 to 2:15 pm - Networking Break
Chat with colleagues and visit our sponsor and exhibitor booths displaying their latest products, materials and technologies.
2:15 to 3:00 pm - Afternoon Keynote Speaker
See our afternoon keynote address from a major industry figure, followed by Q&A. More details coming soon.
3:15 to 4:30 pm - Breakout Sessions in Meeting Rooms
Choose one of three panel discussions featuring speakers from major automakers and suppliers:
4:30 to 5:30 pm - Networking Reception
Join us for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the ballroom and mingle with speakers, sponsors, attendees and WardsAuto editors and analysts.
Early Registration Rate: $345 (Discounted registration ends August 12; regular rate: $445) Register now to reserve your seat!
Panel 7: Machine Intelligence, Learning and Imaginary FriendsA panel of experts will discuss how artificial intelligence and cognitive learning can make better, safer cars as well as amiable personal assistants that can transform the driving experience.
Panel 8: Where are Apps and Subscriber Services Taking Us Next?
The sky is figuratively and literally the limit when it comes to developing Cloud-based apps and new subscription services. What’s next?
4:30 to 5:30 pm - Networking Reception
Join us for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the ballroom and mingle with speakers, sponsors, attendees and WardsAuto editors and analysts.
Early Registration Rate: $345 (Discounted registration ends August 12; regular rate: $445) Register now to reserve your seat!
We'll help you find the right level of exposure to present your company as a leading solution provider in automotive UX! Download the fact sheet and contact us today!
