Digital screens are replacing vehicle dashboards

Jamie McKane

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Digital screens are replacing vehicle dashboards

Fully digital screens are replacing speedometers and dials in vehicles, making industry leader Japan Display Inc. optimistic about boosting sales to global carmakers.

While most new models usually have a center information panel for maps, entertainment and other functions, manufacturers are also increasingly replacing the dashboard facing the driver with a flat screen.

[Bloomberg]
 

genetic

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Digital screens aren't the best idea IMO.

Technology sells, so car companies are all about touch screens and apps these days. Unfortunately, they're truly terrible at designing user interfaces (UIs)—the ways that you, the human, are supposed to interact with it, the car. A good user interface (a) is easy to navigate, (b) puts frequently used controls front and center, (c) gives clear feedback as you make a change and (d) is apparently beyond the capabilities of today's car companies.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/automobile-dashboard-technology-is-simply-awful/

Humans are perfectly able to sneak glances at head-unit displays and navigation systems while operating moving vehicles, but persistent distraction while driving is a legitimate threat. We’re many decades away from actual hands-and-brain-off autonomous driving, so these sorts of big-screen diversions are premature by precisely the same amount of time.

http://www.thedrive.com/tech/17588/...ese-screens-in-cars-might-be-going-to-kill-us
 

justplain

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And what happens when the whole screen/s fail and you have no idea where you are going or speed etc?
I'm not saying that I dont like the idea..the Audi Virtual cockpit and new Merc A and S class dashscreens look amazing! (especially with the augmented reality sat nav!)
It's when they go wrong....I am sure they are all nicely covered under warranty though...
 

Trompie67

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Bikes had had TFT screen for a while. Absolutely brilliant. Clear & visible in almost all light conditions. Win.
 

qscwbt

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There is nothing more beautiful as a analogue red RPM needle sweeping to the redline.
 

Hamster

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There is nothing more beautiful as a analogue red RPM needle sweeping to the redline.

My digital screen has a preset that looks like a analogue needle. And I can change the colour to purple if I wanted to.
 

Sepeng

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And what happens when the whole screen/s fail and you have no idea where you are going or speed etc?

Then you, umm, carry on driving? Unless the screen failing affects the dynamics of the car.
Haven't heard of catastrophic failures with the current ones yet but maybe it's cos the oldest ones are only a few years old - wouldn't mind seeing how a ten year old digital dash functions.
 

genetic

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Then you, umm, carry on driving? Unless the screen failing affects the dynamics of the car.
Haven't heard of catastrophic failures with the current ones yet but maybe it's cos the oldest ones are only a few years old - wouldn't mind seeing how a ten year old digital dash functions.

Probably like a 10 year old smartphone. Slow and painful to use.

Nothing wrong with a simple tactile button.
 

krycor

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Remember in the 80s Toyota had these electronic displays..

maxresdefault.jpg

Anyway.. I like the new completely digital screens but i have to admit, there just is something there with the old school ones. Reminds me of the electric and water meters which also underwent conversion from analogue to digital display.
 

CamiKaze

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I would prefer everything to be at the speedometer like on Audi cars rather, where you have your maps and all those lovely stuff.
 

Trompie67

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Remember in the 80s Toyota had these electronic displays..

View attachment 534279

Anyway.. I like the new completely digital screens but i have to admit, there just is something there with the old school ones. Reminds me of the electric and water meters which also underwent conversion from analogue to digital display.

Hah, poor quality and hardly legible.

My Monza 1.8GLi (where's the chop that raves about Opel car of the year yadda yadda? :) ) had an amazing electronic dash. Loved the hockey stick rev counter!

Monza.jpg
 
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