Visteon's Focus with Integrated Control Panel
Visteon brought a Euro-market Ford Focus C-Max across the Pond for Chris’s perusal at CES. It is one of two prototypes. Visteon's ICP (Visteon-speak: Integrated Control Panel) is installed in the Focus, which features the company’s new "Adaptive Haptic Controller (basically a touch screen with feedback).
Pushing a “button” generates an electro-mechanical vibration for tactile feedback. Different frequency 'buzzes' could be programmed to allow different levels of feedback depending on the button pushed or, say, more vibrating as the volume gets louder.
Follow the jump to learn more about this potentially interior-alterating technology…
Visteon’s system integrates HVAC, nav, and satellite/terrestrial radio on one 8.4" screen. It also includes
a USB plug-in. They had a memory stick plugged-in with MP3s, which then showed on the dash.Two basic knobs govern many of the functions (they also have varying levels of feedback), while a small control stalk on the steering column can active voice commands. Chris reports that his voice wasn't even trained in the system and it worked very well for navigating menus, changing radio stations, dialing calls, etc.
The ICP system with Adaptive Haptic Controller could govern 'higher' functions like suspension settings and so forth, if an OEM desired. Even pumping in the internet is possible.
No production plans (date, cost, specific applications) are available yet, though Visteon is attempting to place its technology with a suitable supplier.
This Focus C-Max is also equipped with a center cooling console from Visteon and the company's new "Dockable Family Entertainment System" - essentially a removable gaming system partnered with Nintendo.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
fasternu426 10:23AM (1/06/2006)
Hey, another thing to keep the driver from paying attention to the road!! Why not have a shiatzu massage feature on the driver seat. Maybe a HUD X-box 360??
Drive the car and play with gadgets at home!!
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G. Snyder 1:37PM (1/06/2006)
#1 has a pretty short-sited outlook. There was nothing here that suggests this is akin to playing video games or watching p0rn on your dash while driving. Why is this more distracting than looking down at your regular radio or HVAC controls? If you took the time to read and understand what this technology is about, maybe your comments would reflect something different. The haptic technology makes it so the virtual 'buttons' are tactile, thereby requiring less concentration to use. Alpine has been using it for sometime.
As for in car entertainment - maybe you long for the days of the in-dash 8 track deck, but more and more people are using digital medium and it only makes sense to look for ways to integrate that into the car's system(s).
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fasternu426 4:29PM (1/06/2006)
#2, #1 is not shortsighted, #1 has experienced many stupid people doing many stupid things while driving.
Rule #1 when driving a motor vehicle is: Drive the FREAKING CAR!
I see dummies all the time doing everything but driving while rolling down the highway. I've seen dead ones too! I had a friend seriously injured by a kid in a 3/4 ton pickup who hit a car from behind, knocking this vehicle into the oncoming lane, hitting my friend head-on. The kid was text messaging someone, never hit her brakes at 70mph.
I can see using GPS maps and such, but a gaming system and internet acces? I don't need to be entertained while driving because I AM BUSY DRIVING. Pleeeease...how bad do you need a Nintendo in the front seat or to surf the net? Get to where you are going and get online or play Mario-Cart.
The last few sentences:
"Even pumping in the internet is possible. .....the company's new "Dockable Family Entertainment System" - essentially a removable gaming system partnered with Nintendo."
Most people barely know how to drive anyway, all they need is another distraction in the cockpit. Go ahead and play with your tactile buttons, I'll be watching the car ahead of me listening to my 8-track Ted Nugent tape! Rock on Brother!
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