The Smart Steering Wheel Cover Design: A Case Study of Industrial-Academic Collaboration in Human-Computer Interaction

The transition to a knowledge-based economy has placed expertise and innovation rather than physical resources as the assets driving economic growth and international competitiveness [1]. The result is a relentless pursuit by businesses to innovate as a means to gain competitive advantage in their industry. However, with shorter product lifecycles, increasing product complexity and rising research and development costs, even large firms are struggling to develop new products on their own. Whereas there is a strong demand from businesses to obtain external research and development resources [2], academic institutions represent a large body of knowledge that often sees no practical implementations. This paper discusses the integration practices in new product development on the case study of The Smart Steering Wheel Cover design. A research team from Delft University of Technology collaborated with a mobile solution firm, MOBGEN, to design a system to enhance the safety and fuel-efficiency of drivers. Analyzing the risks and benefits, challenges and opportunities in industrial-academic collaborative projects, recommendations are presented on optimal collaborative practices in the field of human computer interaction.