Otto In-car Voice Assistance

Automotive VUI

Timeline
Timeline

Jan. 2025 - Apr. 2025

Jan. 2025 - Apr. 2025

Tool
Tool

Protopie, Figma

Protopie, Figma

Contribution Type
Contribution Type

Teamwork

Teamwork

Project Overview

Otto is an in-car voice assistant that combines vehicle control, navigation, and predictive support to improve safety and reduce driver distraction.

Team Project

Team Members: Athena Wu, Ashely Hu, Cynthia Du
My role: I focused on building the interactive prototype in Protopie, enabling the voice assistant flows and demonstrating how Otto would work in real driving scenarios.

Problem

Current systems like CarPlay and Tesla VUI lack proactive features, often overwhelming drivers with unclear prompts and limited decision support.

Solution

Otto offers proactive fuel and parking assistance, clear multi-step commands, and minimalist voice prompts that lower cognitive load and build trust.

Target Audience

Urban drivers and commuters who need safe, efficient, and hands-free support while navigating complex driving environments.

Final Prototype Video 1

Final Prototype Video 1

Final Prototype Video 1

Task 1: Fuel Efficiency & Gas Station Suggestion

Task 1: Fuel Efficiency & Gas Station Suggestion

Final Prototype Video 2

Final Prototype Video 2

Final Prototype Video 2

Task 2: Parking Spot Finding Assistance

Task 2: Parking Spot Finding Assistance

Task 2: Parking Spot Finding Assistance

Design Process

Design Process

Design Process

Problem Space

Problem Space

With the competitive analysis, we found that current in-car voice assistants are limited.

With the competitive analysis, we found that current in-car voice assistants are limited.

Persona

Persona

We created the persona so that we could ground our design decisions in real commuter behaviors, needs, and frustrations.

We created the persona so that we could ground our design decisions in real commuter behaviors, needs, and frustrations.

Journey Map

Journey Map

We mapped out the user journey to identify how Otto reduces friction at each stage, from fuel alerts to proactive navigation, ensuring smoother driving experiences.

We mapped out the user journey to identify how Otto reduces friction at each stage, from fuel alerts to proactive navigation, ensuring smoother driving experiences.

Voice System Persona

Voice System Persona

We crafted Otto’s personality and dialogue style to be calm, minimalist, and proactive, ensuring that interactions feel supportive yet unobtrusive while driving.

We crafted Otto’s personality and dialogue style to be calm, minimalist, and proactive, ensuring that interactions feel supportive yet unobtrusive while driving.

Task 1 · Fuel Efficiency & Gas Station Suggestion

Task 1 · Fuel Efficiency & Gas Station Suggestion

We designed Otto to proactively guide drivers to the nearest fuel options, reducing manual search and decision fatigue.

We designed Otto to proactively guide drivers to the nearest fuel options, reducing manual search and decision fatigue.

Task 2 · Parking Spot Finding Assistance

Task 2 · Parking Spot Finding Assistance

We created a parking assistance flow where Otto anticipates driver needs and provides structured, calm prompts for smoother parking.

We created a parking assistance flow where Otto anticipates driver needs and provides structured, calm prompts for smoother parking.

User Testing & Iterations

User Testing & Iterations

We conducted three rounds of user testing to refine Otto’s voice assistant. Each round revealed usability gaps and guided design improvements, ensuring clarity, efficiency, and trust in the system.

We conducted three rounds of user testing to refine Otto’s voice assistant. Each round revealed usability gaps and guided design improvements, ensuring clarity, efficiency, and trust in the system.

Reflection & Next Steps

Reflection & Next Steps

We reflected on balancing proactive support with low cognitive load so that future iterations can push voice UX further, including integration with in-car hardware.

"I’m always open to feedback and conversations about design."

If my work resonates with you, let’s explore opportunities together.

Pasadena
-

5:12 AM

WeChat ID: DuCynthia0114

"I’m always open to feedback and conversations about design."

If my work resonates with you, let’s explore opportunities together.

Pasadena
-

5:12 AM

WeChat ID: DuCynthia0114