The New York International Auto Show (April 6 - 15, 2012) is going on this week in Manhattan and I cruised into the city to take a look at the latest in cars. In particular, I wanted to see how displays were being used in new cars. It was slightly eye-opening for me, since I drive a display-free 1999 car and at CES I am probably the only person there with a dumb (really dumb) phone vintage 2004.
The answer on how the displays are used, unfortunately, was short and disappointing: not very imaginatively. Most of this is due to the fact that automobile companies focus on, understandably, the automobile. Want a 392 Cubic Inch Dodge Hemi engine with 470 horsepower? You can get one not only in your $44K Dodge Challenger muscle car but also in a $47K Chrysler 300 luxury sedan. And don?t worry about gas prices, the engine has "Fuel Saver" technology.
There appear to be two main applications of pixelated displays in modern cars: for the main instrument cluster and for the navigation and "infotainment" system. Typically the displays used in these applications are in the 7- to 9-inch range. The display itself is not the focus; it is how the display could be used in the context of an automobile that is the focus.
In general, the instrument cluster display is not selectable option-typically if a car model uses a digital instrument cluster it uses it for all versions of that model car. In some cases it just displays warnings, similar to what can be done with a display with fixed icons. In some cases the display also shows basic automotive information previously shown by mechanical indicators like speedometer, odometer, tachometer, oil pressure gage, etc.
The navigation and infotainment display is different-typically it is an option even on high-end car models. Part of the reason for this is many users don?t want a $2500 navigation system since they have their iPhone or other smart phone that not only navigates but has all their music on it as well. Connect it by Bluetooth to the car sound system and why would you want a built-in navigation system?
Some of these navigation and infotainment systems use touch screens, some don?t. Typically this display is about 8-inch and centered on the dashboard where both the driver and the front seat passenger can access it and control functions like programming the navigation system. In some systems this can be done by voice technology but in most cases it is done on the screen, either with touch or external controls. Hopefully, if the driver is programming it he pulls over first; it seems to be a vision-intensive task and would be even more distracting than a hand-held cell phone or even texting.
Back-up cameras are becoming more common and there is even talk about them becoming required. In a car with a navigation system or other similar display, the camera was shown on that display. Otherwise, it could be built into the rear-view mirror. With the car not in reverse, the mirror was just a mirror. Shift into reverse and the camera turns on and part of the mirror becomes the display.
One thing that was visible at the show was the increasing complexity of the instrument panel of cars over the years, as shown in the photos. These were three high-performance cars of their era. Modern luxury cars can have even more complex controls than the Corvette.
Why did I say the display is used "not very imaginatively?" In a modern luxury car, or even in a comfortable mid-priced sedan, there can be hundreds of controls, switches, buttons, paddles, etc. to control the features of the car. Electric windows? 5 or 6 control buttons for the driver plus others for the passengers. Electric mirrors? 5 or 6 more. Sound system? A dozen buttons, knobs, sliders, etc. And these controls are in addition to the touch screen, if present. Since the touch screen is an option, it can?t be too well integrated with the rest of the car or people who don?t buy that option can?t control things. Besides, you need to look at a touch screen, not good for the driver of a car.
Most of these controls, in fact, only tell the computer to do something. Do you think the volume control knob on your sound system is actually connected to a variable resistor? It seems as though this incredible proliferation of buttons and knobs could be controlled by some more imaginative thinking on the part of the car companies. Or does all their imagination go into the shapes of fenders?
I did see one nice application of stereo vision technology as a driver assist system in the 2013 Subaru. You can read about it in the upcoming issue of Mobile Display Report.
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