Self-driving cars could free drivers from the burden of navigation, enabling them to engage in other activities while driving. Market research from Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering – a pioneer in autonomous vehicle technology – determined the top 10 activities U.S. consumers say they want to engage in once self-driving cars are commercialized.
Surveying 1,000 people, Carnegie Mellon College of Engineering market researchers found the top 10 activities they’re looking forward to engaging in to be:
- Use mobile devices (finally!);
- Eat lunch;
- Read a book;
- Watch movies;
- Do work;
- Pay bills;
- Play video games;
- Put on makeup;
- Plan a trip;
- Shoot photos and selfies.
Males (59 percent) and females (59.2 percent) expressed a nearly equal desire to use mobile devices, as well as eat lunch (53.3 percent and 51.3 percent, respectively), while in self-driving vehicles. More men (39.6 percent) than women (30.1 percent) said they would opt to watch movies. In addition, those 18-35 were more likely to express the desire to use mobile devices and play video games than older people.
The Self-Driving Car Study
Carnegie Mellon researchers also delved into the issue of self-driving car design. The survey revealed that 71.8 percent wanted to remain digitally connected to their homes.
When asked “What new design possibilities would you ideally like self-driving cars to provide?” they responded:
- Seamlessly connect to their home system – 71.8%;Is
- Designed to be an office – 32.1%;
- Is outfitted as a mobile medical office and connected to medical systems – 22.6%;
- Can tape my journeys for a video diary – 21.1%;
- Has features for a great mobile party – 12.8%
People aged 25-45 and men (33.7 percent) were more likely than women (30.5 percent) to say they’d like self-driving cars to be outfitted as an office. People 35 and younger were more receptive than Baby Boomers to the idea of having a self-driving car designed to host a mobile party.
