Mid-air haptics for automotive HUDs: A sketch anticipation and design fiction study

2026. Technological Forecasting and Social Change.

Orestis Georgiou, Roberto Montano Murillo, Dario Pittera, William Frier, Stephen Hughes, Patrick Haggard, Marianna Obrist & Patricia Cornelio.

Innovations in the automotive industry, such as autonomous driving, AI assistants, head-up displays, and mid-air haptic touchless interactions, promise transformative benefits but may also introduce unanticipated risks and ethical concerns. To explore these potential challenges, we conducted a multi-stage study: first, we engaged 27 engineers specializing in touchless and automotive systems to envision future applications of mid-air haptics and head-up displays. Insights from this anticipatory design fiction informed the creation of high-fidelity storyboard sketches depicting six hypothetical scenarios. Using these storyboards and a custom questionnaire, we then surveyed 135 drivers across nine countries to assess their views on technology acceptance, interface usability, and responsible innovation. Results revealed significant demographic variability, alongside a dual sentiment: while drivers express enthusiasm for technological integration, they also voice concerns about safety, user control, and privacy. Our findings not only inform safer and more user-centered automotive innovation but also offer a multimodal framework for evaluating and guiding emerging technologies across diverse fields.

Full paper

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162526000442?via%3Dihub

Citation

Georgiou, O., Montano, R., Pittera, D., Frier, W., Hughes, S., Haggard, P., … Cornelio, P. (2026). Mid-air haptics for automotive huds: a sketch anticipation and design fiction study. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 226, 124567.

BibTeX

@article{georgiou2026mid, title={Mid-air haptics for automotive HUDs: A sketch anticipation and design fiction study}, author={Georgiou, Orestis and Montano, Roberto and Pittera, Dario and Frier, William and Hughes, Stephen and Haggard, Patrick and Obrist, Marianna and Cornelio, Patricia}, journal={Technological Forecasting and Social Change}, volume={226}, pages={124567}, year={2026}, publisher={Elsevier} }