Mapping the connection between car and driver

Most of us spend a significant amount of time in our cars, so it’s not a stretch to think they can become an extension of ourselves both physically and emotionally. In fact, this is an idea we wanted to explore further, and you might have read our earlier post about an experiment we were working on to see if we can map the emotional connection between car and driver, specifically with our all-new Kia Cerato (Forte). Today on Kia-buzz, we wanted to present our readers with the results of our experiment, which can be seen in the video above.


A combination of motion detection, bio feedback and computer graphics all came together to visualize the emotion and dynamics provoked by driving of our new compact sedan.

For this experiment we used 3D generative art as a reference, creating automated graphics based on data points and input we received from a set of test drivers. Our goal was to measure the driver’s physiological reactions when driving, and express them through 3D art. The idea itself was unusual, but ambitious and interesting nonetheless. To program and create the visualization, our computer graphic artists were inspired by an art technique called Croquis, which involves drawing with light and quick pencil strokes, which fittingly led them to title their work as“Cerato Digital Croquis Art.”

The experiment first started by connecting monitoring devices to the all-new Cerato and biofeedback instruments to drivers. They then went through a variety of driving conditions on our test track, which was similar to the conditions of our proving grounds but with some added twists. In order to evoke and capture a variety of emotions – drivers had to turn sudden corners, drive through narrowing roads, and react to sudden situations– like giant boulder-sized rubber spheres falling from the sky. That last one was ridiculously unnecessary, but we needed to do it for the sake of science.

3D graphic art was used to visualize the relationship between car and driver from the data we were capturing. The lines represented the Cerato’s movements or driving dynamics and the red particles reflected the driver’s physiological and emotional changes.

On this narrowing road the silver lines represent the car’s straight and steady direction, and the red particles show a more neutral physiological state.

Source: KiaBUZZ