NEW! Press kit from the Volvo Trucks Umeå presentation Feb 2003 >

A conceptual design project made by Institute of Design, Umeå University in cooperation with Volvo Trucks, Snickers Europe and Nokia.

Project aimed to find mobile communication solutions
The need for mobile communication outside the truck cab is constantly increasing when the demands for effectiveness and flexibility rises. This project’s purpose was to investigate the truck operators needs and to see how modern digital technology can help to reduce the paper work and increase the productivity and make the operator’s working situation better.

Wide range research methods
Research methods used include literature studies, participatory observations, hardware and software sketches and design models tested on users throughout the project. In contrast to traditional conceptual design projects, a number of working electronic prototypes of the suggested hardware were built (in cooperation with students from the faculty of Applied Physics and Electronics at Umeå University). This took the project a bit further, to show the possibilities of this new mobile digital technology.

Research shows much working time outside the cab
A short-range truck operator who transports provisions in medium weight trucks spends approx. 42 % of their working time outside the cab. This outside work consists of loading, unloading, communication, interaction with customers and some administration. A communication product for this user group must meet requirements such as: good ergonomics, work with technology of today and tomorrow, outlast the toughest climates, be socially acceptable and add valuable benefits to the truck operators own working situation.

Mobile Internet is the backbone
The suggested system is built up around the truck on board CPU with satellite connection to the Internet. The truck operator is connected to the CPU via wireless LAN (e.g. Bluetooth), will see information on handheld, neck- or head worn devices. To keep track of the goods Radio Frequency Tags are used. DGPS is also used for precise positioning of the truck. Logging of goods movements will be registered through gate sensors in truck and storehouses.

Concept I: Cap Mounted Display
A monocular display unit is mounted on an ordinary cap. The unit also contains microphone, earphones, camera and Bluetooth units. The device is voice activated.

Concept II: Audio Collar Device
A collar shaped, soft device with builtin pairs of speakers and microphones for phone, news, music and text messages read by a synthetic voice. This device with specially designed speakers for directed sound effect towards the users ears, without having to plug in earphones. Will work with any type of garments.

Concept III: Arm- and Handheld Display
An arm mounted version of the handheld computer (e.g. Palm Pilot) with telephone function added. A leg pocket variant with touch screen is also possible.

Context awareness reduces stress and saves time
The fact that the system knows when and which information is wanted and useful, is a fundamental shift form today’s unintelligent digital information systems when the user himself must select from all information that’s available to him. This is a wellknown cause of technology stress and fatigue.
In our scenario, the user just has to enter the loading bay and the CPU sends him information about loading. No more clicking through menus and typing commands.

Promising conclusions
One of the most obvious conclusions of this project is the time saving effect of between 3–20 % of the short-range truck operators total working time.
Still, we strongly suggest that additional economical and logistical studies must be carried out to confirm these figures, before they can be considered as facts.

Interactive Presentation download >
[English text] Shockwave 5.2 MB

Cap Mounted Display Report by Fredrik Nilbrink download >
[Swedish text with English abstract] PDF 343 kB

Audio Collar Device Report by Lena Ahlgren and Urban Lehto download >
[Swedish text with English abstract] PDF 9,7 MB

Goods Finder Report by Markus Lindström download >
[Swedish text with English abstract] PDF 1.6 MB

Goods Finder Video
T1 or ISDN RealPlayer 3.3 MB
Modem RealPlayer 519 kB

Cap Mounted Display Video
T1 or ISDN RealPlayer 5.2 MB
Modem RealPlayer 799 kB