Innovation takes the wheel: the value of using novel approaches to explore views of novel technology

Speaker(s):

Clare Palmer, BritainThinks

Abstract:

With Self-Driving Vehicle (SDV) technology progressing rapidly, public attitudes and requirements for this novel technology need to be understood by stakeholders. Commissioned by the Department for Transport, BritainThinks led a complex research programme to understand how first-hand experiences of SDVs impact views of the technology and its role in future local transport systems. Using an innovative suite of research methods, we ran immersive deliberative workshops, quantitative surveys to measure the impact of exposure to the technology, and one of the first uses of EEG headsets in a 'live' field environment in partnership with University College London (UCL).

Clare Palmer (BritainThinks) and Rebecca Posner (DfT) will discuss the methodologies used and why, how different methods worked together, how we successfully brought the technology to life in a variety of local environments, and ultimately how our chosen methods contributed towards findings and policy perspectives.