Today, a wide range of new in-vehicle technologies are being introduced into the market, including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and In-Vehicle Information Systems (IVIS). With the in-vehicle use of nomad devices - mobile phones, personal digital assistants and other portable computing devices - also increasing rapidly, these new technologies have great potential for increasing road safety, as well as enhancing the quality of life and work by providing in-vehicle access to new information services.

However, the safety benefits of such technologies may be significantly reduced or cancelled out altogether if they are not well designed, controlled and installed. The general objective of the Integrated Project AIDE is to develop the models, methodologies and human-machine interface technologies required for safe and efficient integration of driver assistance and information systems in the vehicle.

The end product will be a generic driver/vehicle interface that adapts to traffic and vehicle conditions, analysing the driver situation and information load and adapting the information presented accordingly. For example, while the driver is overtaking another car, low-priority information about the surrounding environment or an incoming phone call could be delayed until the driver is better able to receive it.