User Acceptance of Voice Interfaces in the Automobile

Abstract

New technologies are increasingly being implemented into the automobile. However, little is known about what factors most influence user acceptance. This study investigates factors and relationships described in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to explore the effects of perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use on people’s attitudes and behavioral intentions to use new technologies in the automobile. In particular, this study draws upon in-vehicle voice interfaces as an example of rapidly evolving in-vehicle technologies. An experiment was conducted where an age- and gender-balanced sample of 80 participants completed tasks using voice interface in one of two vehicles while driving on-road. As part of the debriefing, participants answered a structured questionnaire about their experience with the technology. The results confirmed the applicability of TAM for describing the effects of perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use on attitudes and behavioral intentions to use the voice interface in the car, but also suggested a need for extending the model to include a direct effect of perceived ease-of-use on behavioral intentions. Also, comparative analyses between interface types and user characteristics showed that perceptions and acceptance may be influenced more by design attributes and interaction methods than by demographic characteristics such as age or gender.