Apple's In-Car Technology Ambitions Revealed in 'Digital Dash' Patents

[LordVic]

infotainment systems such as the ones apple has proposed here aren't new, nor are they even "emerging" anymore.

Yes Car manufacturers are typically a few year late to put new radio tech into their cars,

But even by now, Most of the car companies have an in dash infotainment system that incorporates many if not all of these capabilities. if Apple is looking to pioneer new markets, This isn't it.

They will be playing serious catch up to the existing manufacturers of this sort of Tech. QNX and the like have years headstart and a lot more experience in the market.

 

[Murgatroyd]

If anyone who has Cook's ear, read this.

Wow. This another example why Apple has lost its touch. This new thing being touted.

Information is to be displayed as LED lights, or whatever, upon the windshield, updated in real time so the driver doesn't have to look down at some stupid console, like the one in this article, instead the driver keeps both eyes on the road. All the driver has to do is refocus the eyes to perceive the situation.

Correct me if I'm wrong. Do military pilots have information splayed up upon the window? Even if not so, the first car manufacturer to develop the system where traffic in proximity to the vehicle is splayed upon the windshield in front of the driver, (the blue dot is the driver's car, the red dots are approaching the blue dot, green dots are traveling in a velocity away from the green dot, … duh) sells cars like hotcakes. No more blind spots. That stupid pillar to the left and front of every driver does not block views of that area while the driver is in motion. All this is taken care of were information displayed in front of the driver while the vehicle is in motion.

is losing its prestige in the innovation department. My opinion.

Is it stupid alcohol consumption? Is it our Western school system that teaches a bunch of junk and you're only lucky to have any sense of wonder and awe to the world after graduating? Creeping socialism and all anyone is involved with now is beer, BJ's, and TV? Or am I perhaps too critical of the way the world turns, and simply cannot tolerate watching the great company Apple tumble into the abyss of mediocrity?

Wow.*****

 

[velocityg4]

Most cars these days have steering wheel controls, and I am pretty sure you can control most of the stuff from there.

That requires integration in the car though. Which means you are stuck with it when it becomes obsolete and useless or have useless buttons on the steering wheel when you replace it. I never look twice at cars with integration. Which Ford has been good about up to the 2009 Mustang at least. Don't know about newer models.

 

[osaga]

Currently driving a loaner bmw with the idrive system. It has no touchscreen just one knob and one button to control everything. In theory it's a smart interface. But I've had the car for 4 days and i still don't understand how to use all it. It is time consuming to use.

I think the future of screens in cars should Look like this:

Climate and stereo controls should remain buttons and knobs.
Everything else can be on the touch screen:

Navigation.
Engine diagnostics and info.
Back-up cameras
Hands-free calling, imessages, facetime
Iinternet.
Apps galore.
Internet radio.

 

[steve333]

Tactile feedback?
You know provides the best tactile feedback? Buttons and Knobs!
Enough with this touchscreen crap in cars

 

[zone23]

I find it funny they want/are adding this car "stuff" but they can't make the iPhone 5 work with Ford Sync but it works with the 4S. I'm talking about reading and replying to SMS/Emails through the Sync system.

 

[mdelvecchio]

This will also encourage bringing "apps" onto the car dashboard which further distracts the driver from doing the one and only thing that matters while in a car, driving.

in dash iOS apps already exist -- see the Pioneer AppRadio, which turns the head unit into a capacitive touchscreen for supported apps (maps, pandora, Netflix, etc). standard motions restrictions apply.

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sry. but this looks like c**p.

functional mockups often do. it has no bearing on future design.

 

[Antares]

The mockup is ugly but I really like this concept! I love non-rectangle screens. They are much more interesting, cool looking and "futuristic." I will happily eschew physical buttons for something like this.

 

[mdelvecchio]

Most cars these days have steering wheel controls, and I am pretty sure you can control most of the stuff from there.

yep. and there are even kits to reroute those for third-party head units.

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I have a vehicle with Ford MyTouch in it, have to say it's an absolutely horrible system.

didn't Ford partner with MS for MyTouch? BadTouch...

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But even by now, Most of the car companies have an in dash infotainment system that incorporates many if not all of these capabilities. if Apple is looking to pioneer new markets, This isn't it.

They will be playing serious catch up to the existing manufacturers of this sort of Tech. QNX and the like have years headstart and a lot more experience in the market.

good thing apple didn't listen to you when they launched the iPhone. the naysayers said the same -- existing tech segment, etc...doh.

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Wow. This another example why Apple has lost its touch. This new thing being touted.

get over yourself, man -- this is a rumor, nothing more. like a million others.

 

[Antares]

That requires integration in the car though. Which means you are stuck with it when it becomes obsolete and useless or have useless buttons on the steering wheel when you replace it. I never look twice at cars with integration. Which Ford has been good about up to the 2009 Mustang at least. Don't know about newer models.

How does it become useless? It would still have the same functionality as when you first bought the car. Its not like everything suddenly stops working when a new model car is released and has new tech. It's not like my Super Nintendo no longer works now that Nintendo has released several new consoles since then. In the same vein, why would car controls stop working just because new models have been released?

 

[mdelvecchio]

That requires integration in the car though. Which means you are stuck with it when it becomes obsolete and useless or have useless buttons on the steering wheel when you replace it. I never look twice at cars with integration. Which Ford has been good about up to the 2009 Mustang at least. Don't know about newer models.

you're wrong. steering wheel control kits are commonly used when switching to after market.

 

[rjohnstone]

you're wrong. steering wheel control kits are commonly used when switching to after market.

This...

I've seen dash conversions where a user replaced the whole console with a Nexus 7 and then used a steering wheel adapter to retain the steering wheel button functions to control the media player.
Pretty slick conversion too.

The adapter kits are cheap and easy to use.

 

[bacaramac]

Can't wait to have a car (or buy aftermarket) with just a display and a few buttons that change what they do based on what the screen is doing. My Pioneer AppRadio 2 is ok, but a new version that has iOS in the car would be exactly what I want. I want my iPhone Apps on my car display.

- iOS Maps
- Pandora
- Rhapsody
- iTunes
- And any other apps that make sense like Dash Command, etc.

 

[asthamapheo]

the idea's great, really useful, a must-have thing but the mock ups were really bad, it looked like that they were 20,30 years old.

 

[JAT]

I feel like you somehow missed the entire point of this system. It combines the benefits of a touch screen display with the benefits of real buttons. It is meant to address the issues you are talking about, allowing people to manipulate a touchscreen without having to look at it.

Almost every single person in this thread missed the most important word. Maybe everyone should re-read it a bit.

Tactile.

(now, whether it actually works will have to wait until it actually exists)

 

[Leonard1818]

I mean, Tesla has a large tablet as a control interface and a few luxury car brands have digital dash concepts already in prototype products.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/08/qnx-concept-bentley-continental-gt/

However in general I find that On-screen buttons and control knobs goes against the message of safety while driving.

Currently with "real" buttons, I can adjust the temp, change the volume, or even the a radio station without having to look at the interface. However with a virtual dashboard, I have to first look to ensure I am on the right view, and then I have to look specifically to ensure my finger is in the right area to change a setting, and maintain sight to ensure I reach the right setting value. Tactile feedback such as the screen vibrating when I am in the right area is not "good enough".

This also goes against Apple's "sightless" concepts for bringing more Siri like features into the car that do not require a screen or interface to interact with.

Overall while this concept is "cool", it's overall not safe and should be left in an R&D notebook. This will also encourage bringing "apps" onto the car dashboard which further distracts the driver from doing the one and only thing that matters while in a car, driving.

Agreed.

In a lot of areas, texting and driving is illegal (which I'm all for). So...I can't touch one screen sitting in the cubby below my center stack (to text) or I could get pulled over and fined. But if I want to turn the heat up, I HAVE TO touch the screen 3 inches above it and fiddle with that one... equally as distracting.

zero sense has been made.

 

[CFreymarc]

One issue that not many bring up is that the current generation of automotive, color LCD displays in the current automotive environments have issues in extreme temperatures.

If you live in a Mediterranean climate, you rarely see these but in a arctic, temperate or tropical climate, these new displays are not selling well with old school mono-chrome displays still in use. I'm sure the process technology for these LCD displays will catchup but it is not immediate.

Also, with Valley connections, I bet this shows up on the next generation Teslas.

 

[otismotive77]

the tesla model S offers most of those features, i love that car, i wish i could buy it.

 

[velocityg4]

How does it become useless? It would still have the same functionality as when you first bought the car. Its not like everything suddenly stops working when a new model car is released and has new tech. It's not like my Super Nintendo no longer works now that Nintendo has released several new consoles since then. In the same vein, why would car controls stop working just because new models have been released?

Unlike a Super Nintendo, CD player, and so forth. Much of the functions of a device such as this require connecting to sources and services with constantly changing requirements. So internet and media connectivity would fall apart as system requirements increased. The GPS would become useless when new map updates are unavailable.

When the Super Nintendo became obsolete you could replace it with a Nintendo 64 without changing out your entertainment center. Which is why a device such as this should use a Double DIN form factor so it can simply be replaced. It would be smarter for Apple too since they could sell new units every few years.

 

[osaga]

Here's Tesla's system in case anyone is interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kSWLBIvztg

 

[senseless]

I like the vertically oriented GPS screen. This is how they should all be.

 

[hauntvictim]

Here's Tesla's system in case anyone is interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kSWLBIvztg

Im sold, where can I buy one

 

[eRondeau]

Does that display really say "+2"??? Good Lord, is there a less-intuitive way to display a relational concept? That's how it looked 30 years ago with LED's. To whoever came up with this stupid idea: YOU DON'T GET IT.

 

[Vane]

Here's Tesla's system in case anyone is interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kSWLBIvztg

I prefer this concept over the "Digital Dash".