Cultural Analyses of In-car Communication

Abstract

What if new cars could adjust in-car devices to particular ways of speaking around the world? General Motors sought communication research to inform the design of culturally competent in-car human–machine interfaces. We discuss concerns and tensions that arise when balancing commitments of naturalistic study with design development goals. We emphasize the importance of awareness, attentiveness, and cooperation to ensure research integrity.

Keywords:

• Ethnography of Communication
• Cultural Discourse Analysis
• Speech Applications
• Human–Machine Interface
• General Motors
• In-Car Communication

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge their colleagues who are part of the field research team in China: Pei Wang who is a Research Specialist of the Human–Machine Interface at General Motors in Shanghai, China, and Libin Hang, Associate Professor of Communication at Donghua University, Shanghai, China.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Donal Carbaugh

Donal Carbaugh (PhD, University of Washington) is Professor of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Amherst

Ute Winter

Ute Winter (PhD, RWTH Aachen University) is a Research Specialist of the Human–Machine Interface at General Motors Research and Development, Herzeliya, Israel

Brion van Over

Brion van Over (PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst) is an Assistant Professor of Communication at Manchester Community College, Connecticut

Elizabeth Molina-Markham

Elizabeth Molina-Markham (PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst) is in residence at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire

Sunny Lie

Sunny Lie is a Doctoral Candidate