BMW
Two screens, one experience: Developing a seamless interaction concept for the parallel use of a smartphone app and vehicle display
task
The bachelor’s thesis addresses the question of how the parallel use of a vehicle display and a smartphone app—known as second-screen interaction—can be designed in a user-centered way. The starting point was the challenge that although today’s vehicles and companion apps such as the MyBMW App are connected, they offer hardly any coordinated, cross-device interactions. The aim of the thesis was therefore to examine in which use cases a second screen in the vehicle provides real added value and which design principles are necessary to ensure an intuitive, consistent, and safe user experience. This thesis was developed in collaboration with BMW and their design department.
solution
To address the research question, a user-centered, two-stage approach was chosen. First, relevant use scenarios were identified and prioritized through market analyses, expert interviews, and user surveys. Based on these insights, three prototypical interaction concepts were developed, each representing a different form of second-screen use: collaborative navigation, adaptive text input, and dynamic content extension. These concepts were then implemented as interactive prototypes and evaluated in a qualitative user study within the in-vehicle context. The results led to clear recommendations on how second-screen interactions must be designed to be understandable, safe, and intuitive for users.
The thesis outlines the vision of a vehicle that is no longer merely a means of transportation, but an intelligent digital companion that anticipates, supports, and integrates seamlessly into the user’s life across device boundaries. It points toward a future in which mobility becomes a fluid, connected experience—characterized by intuitive interactions, shared intelligence between systems, and an entirely new way of experiencing digital spaces on the move.
Impressions
01
Unfortunately, this thesis cannot be published in full. Please feel free to contact me if you would like further insights into my work.
02
Unfortunately, this thesis cannot be published in full. Please feel free to contact me if you would like further insights into my work.
03
Unfortunately, this thesis cannot be published in full. Please feel free to contact me if you would like further insights into my work.
04
Unfortunately, this thesis cannot be published in full. Please feel free to contact me if you would like further insights into my work.
05
Unfortunately, this thesis cannot be published in full. Please feel free to contact me if you would like further insights into my work.
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