A motorcycle rider is 16 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than a car driver.
Research identified concentration as a critical component, an opportunity to develop innovative ideas for improving safety. The study is based on a literature review and a field study which consisted of a questionnaire distributed among 153 two-wheeler riders and nine in-depth interviews. The conceptual development is the product of participatory research, contextual learning and three prototyping workshops, for which an interactive helmet model was built. The model allows users to receive feedback on changes in concentration level in a simulation of motorcycle riding. The model measures concentration using EEG, allowing for a variety of indications in response to changes in its level during a simulated 20-minute ride on a highway. After each round, an interview was conducted and insights were extracted regarding the user experience. Analysis showed that the users preferred tactile indication (weak vibration on the sides of the head) over a combined tactile and auditory indication, perceived as an "error message". In providing an audio indication there was a clear preference for a personalized over a generic (beep) indication. A visual indication combined with vibration was perceived as a new "language", requiring time to learn. Additionally, an area was identified in the helmet allowing visual indication without blocking the view. There is no similar commercial product on the market. Previous studies have focused on the feasibility of measuring signals through electrodes in a helmet and have not dealt with maintaining concentration or characterizing user experience, hence the innovation of the project.
