Tim Smith (@timsmith) refers to himself as a “human-to-whatever” designer. It’s a description stems from his belief that human-centered design principles can be applied to every situation. He even once designed a machine for more efficiently milking cows. In his current role as Global Auto & Mobility Director at ustwo, he is focused on the in-car autonomous car experience.
Specifically, Smith and his colleagues are researching how to make autonomous travel accessible for both able and disabled passengers. He co-authored Humanising Autonomy: Where are we going?, in which he argues the auto industry’s approach to autonomy is imbalanced. In addition to focusing on the technical challenges, he and his co-authors argue the human-factors involved in autonomy must be considered.
In this conversation, Blake and Tim discuss:
- The challenges facing the auto industry when designing for accessibility.
- The unintended consequences to retrofitting properties for accessibility.
- The importance of voice centered human experiences both in and out of the car.
Find Tim on Twitter, @mypoorbrain, on Instagram, @timsmith and on LinkedIn.
Find The Future of Living Podcast online at https://futureoflivingpodcast.com. Or on Twitter and Instagram: @FutureLivingPod.
