Who is Generation A? Investigating the Experience of Automated Driving for Different Age Groups

The prevalence of Automated Driving Systems (ADS) is expected to open up many possibilities for different user groups with individual needs and challenges. Former secondary/tertiary tasks can become primary tasks, and driving with all its interactions and responsibilities steps back or disappears at all. At higher levels of AD it is expected that the elderly could maintain or regain individual mobility, thus, play a major role for future markets. To understand individual mindsets concerning technology acceptance and user needs we conducted an explorative interview study (N=27). In a simulated automated driving environment, driving experience over time was compared across three age groups (elderly people >65, younger adults <30, younger adults <30 with age simulation suite), utilizing the STAM model for content analysis. Results of the age-comparison indicate no major differences in the general technology acceptance, however, fine-grained analysis revealed interesting differences in participants' perceptions concerning UX design requirements.