War on buttons extends to automotive front with Chrysler's iPhone-like dashboard
04-15-09 | 07:36 AM
#1
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G35x - RWD/AWD goodness
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,950
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
War on buttons extends to automotive front with Chrysler's iPhone-like dashboard
It's no secret that Apple doesn't like buttons, making the iPhone nearly free of the things and then further pushing the offensive by cropping the 3G Shuffle down to one massively overloaded input. Nartron Corporation is Apple's partner in button hate, bringing that bias to Chrysler of all places to develop a next-gen dashboard for the company's 200C concept. The system is called iQ Power and is unabashedly iPhone-inspired, featuring big, colorful controls and even cover-flow album art for media browsing. Interestingly the system will allow "any smartphone" to be used as an intelligent key, unlocking doors and even accessing a video stream of the car's interior -- which should do wonders for your auto's battery life. The system naturally offers UConnect and features a wireless tablet that allows passengers to send music recommendations to the driver's console. Of course, passengers could also just speak up, but when you're as flush with profits as Chrysler is, why not blow some cash researching useless tech like in-car messaging?
[Thanks, Josh, photo courtesy of Adam Bird for The New York Times]
[Thanks, Josh, photo courtesy of Adam Bird for The New York Times]
04-15-09 | 05:46 PM
#3
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
From: NY
It does look cool, but one of the comments on the post pointed out how people are supposed to be able to pay attention and use the dash while driving since it's touchscreen and you have to look at it, which is a very valid point. This might just end up being worse than texting while driving.
04-16-09 | 09:40 AM
#7
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04-19-09 | 01:47 PM
#9
i think a huge touchscreen is the wrong way to go. a person is DRIVING and should not be taking their eyes off the road to find the place on the screen to touch. maybe ok for the nav system or some controls, but for EVERYTHING i think it would be WAY too distracting. the point of the idrive and other interfaces is to make it easy to 'find' the control at least without looking away.
but regardless, voice recognition (if done well) is another good alternative.
but regardless, voice recognition (if done well) is another good alternative.
04-19-09 | 06:01 PM
#10
I see nothing wrong with buttons. I like a good solid separate button for each function. In fact, I didn't like the idea that many controls for different functions all went through a single navigation touch screen on different menus. I like my radio controls separate from my climate controls on their own control units. This idea of making the entire dash a touch screen is not my thing. If the the touch screen goes bad does that mean you have to replace the entire dash touch screen unit? Does that also mean when if/when it goes bad you loose control over virtually everything that this touch panel dash controls? That is why I like separate buttons and control units for each major component. Appeal wise I don't mind the look of nice buttons either.
04-19-09 | 08:04 PM
#11
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 8,349
Likes: 0
From: QC/FRANCE
The big three have to learn from their mistakes and go under. They should have learnt years ago. Listen to their costumers and everyone would be happy. But that is just me.
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