Mercedes-Benz readies Splitview monitor for S-Class
If you've ever sat in the passenger seat of a vehicle with navigation and wished you could watch movies on it, your time is coming soon. Mercedes-Benz and Bosch are working on a Splitview navigation screen for the S-Class that features an eight-inch screen that displays two images at once courtesy of new adjacent pixel technology. The system only allows the driver to see navigation and COMAND controls, while the passenger sits back in S-Class luxury watching the movie of his or her choosing. The front passenger can also choose to listen to the movie with high-end headphones, or the soundtrack can be played through the car's speakers.
Mercedes new Splitview monitor is no far-off concept either. It will be featured in the S-Class beginning in the summer of 2009. We've seen similar technology from from other OEMs and suppliers in the past, but Mercedes is the first luxury automaker to officially announce the technology in one of its production vehicles.
PRESS RELEASE
In future Mercedes-Benz is equipping its luxury class models as the first premium brand with a display screen that allows the driver and front passenger to view two different programmes at the same time. While the driver is checking the navigation instructions, the front passenger can sit back and watch a film on the very same display. This is made possible by new SPLITVIEW technology which the Stuttgart premium brand is introducing in the S-Class for the first time.
Mercedes-Benz has integrated the new SPLITVIEW technology developed by Mercedes-Benz and Bosch into the innovative control and display system COMAND, which is centrally located in the dashboard console. Its generously dimensioned, 8-inch (approx. 20 mm) monitor shows a backlighted active matrix colour display (TFT-LCD). This shows two different images simultaneously by placing pixels adjacent to each other. A filter masking the display divides this mixed image in such a way that depending on the seating position, only the pixels making up one or the other image can be seen. As a result, the driver and front passenger can view different programmes on the same screen at the same time.
The driver still has access to all the information from the control and display system COMAND on the display, while the front passenger uses the remote control to choose his own entertainment programme with DVDs, TV channels or music videos. To avoid distracting the driver with his entertainment programme, he also has the option of enjoying the programme via headphones. As before, the driver is able to view all the information provided by the COMAND system on the display.
Mercedes-Benz is introducing the new SPLITVIEW technology in the S-Class for the first time in summer 2009.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Alex 9:34AM (12/11/2008)
Maybe i'm old fashioned but the idea of my passenger watching tv while i'm driving seems a little insulting. Have a damn conversation with me. I get having some rear entertainment for the kids on a long haul but seriously, is time spent in the passenger seat of a car so bad that you need a tv?
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Kitko 9:40AM (12/11/2008)
I'm more concerned about driver wanting to know what just happened, who's been shot, who scored or who resigned... Not being able to know that NOW is perhaps more destracting (psychology of expectation... ) than watching tv all the time... :-)
mayflyripper 9:41AM (12/11/2008)
While the obvious use would be an entertainment source for the passenger (think of driving your teen around), there's nothing stopping the passenger from using it for more practical applications - watching the news and using that for a conversation starter, viewing TV/weather traffic reports to assist the driver.
Justin 10:29AM (12/11/2008)
I think it's cool technology, but I definitely understand and relate to your opinion...
I recently went on a road trip with my friend and his girlfriend. Usually, (before he started dating her) I would be his "co-pilot". Giving directions, joking around, etc. I took the backseat, because obviously, people's significant others always get shotgun. I didn't mind.. But she just put her headphones on and went to sleep.
I couldn't help but think.. what's the point of sitting up there if you're going to sleep? I tried making conversation from the backseat, but we all know how obnoxious that is. -shrug-
Serge 11:06AM (12/11/2008)
@ Alex
I agree with you.. there is no reason to watch TV in the car. When I was grwoing up I loved to be in the car and look out the window, pay attention to the driving and just talk.
@ mayflyripper
I think most modern car navigation systems display weather and traffic, no need for TV.
But I guess this is just another unecessary stupid reason to charge over $100,000 for a car...
mayflyripper 11:56AM (12/11/2008)
@Serge
While I'd agree that weather/traffic reports are available in many existing in-car systems, they are likely to be readily available for major metropolitan areas and iffy in rural areas due to the simple fact of limited potential customers (e.g. in Canada, services exist that provide weather/traffic reports but only for Toronto, Montreal & Vancouver). On the other hand, weather/traffic reports for rural areas from a TV signal is bound to be more readily available just due to the fact that an audience already exists.
Huecifer 1:29PM (12/11/2008)
Um, do you know how many MB S-Classes get purchased by people who never actually drive them? The kinds of people who hire someone to do their driving for them?
This functionality perfectly addresses those people, who, lets face it, are one of the core markets for this car. Ever been to Manhattan? Notice all the black S-Classes with chauffeurs. Being able to catch up with news or stocks without distracting your driver is a feature I GUARANTEE these people will buy.
Or, if you're a company who provides you lawyers/bankers/whatevers with a car service and this gets marketed as something that makes those people more productive while they are being driven around, you sure as s*** are going to buy it.
Serge 3:05PM (12/11/2008)
@ Huecifer
I doubt that the people you speak of ride shotgun...
JC 9:50AM (12/11/2008)
A DVD screen for each passenger.Perfect for the dysfunctional family on the go.
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moyoi 1:00PM (12/11/2008)
haha - "Don't talk to me!"
tom 9:42AM (12/11/2008)
I hope they did their homework on crash and safety features.Talking on the phone,smoking a butt,watching a movie,and getting directions while driving might hamper some of our less skilled drivers!
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grover96 12:01PM (12/11/2008)
You tell 'em. Mercedes usually doesn't do any research.
Matty 9:49PM (12/11/2008)
+1. The company that brought us the airbag and adaptive cruise control has been really neglecting safety.
grover96 10:42PM (12/11/2008)
Don't forget ABS and EPS. MB always playing fast and loose with our lives!!!
Smegley 9:47AM (12/11/2008)
What the heck is wrong with people that they only get fulfillment staring at a tube anymore? Is personal interaction and the creativity of entertaining friends beyond the grasp of people these days? I've been on virtually non-stop cross-country drives with many different people and never turned on the radio or popped in a CD or iPod and we were never bored once during the whole thing. It's called "using your mind."
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Michael 4:27PM (12/11/2008)
Right on, friend. Sometimes even during the school day (I'm in high school) when we have free time (which is a little too often), I see all the kids rush to their iPods and cell phones. Why not just talk?
kris 9:49AM (12/11/2008)
dude, that's frickin' AWESOME!!!! I'd say I want it, but I guess wouldn't benefit ME to have it in my car...haha. That's like springing for heated/cooled seats in the passenger seat...
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Smegley 9:56AM (12/11/2008)
I can see more use for this at home.
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Serge 11:07AM (12/11/2008)
@ Smegley
LOL!!!
I feel bad for you man...
Sung-Hwan Joo 9:57AM (12/11/2008)
Hyundai already developed this system and is selling Azera (Grandeur) with this option in Korean Market since October.
http://www.desinformado.com/index.php/2008/02/20/hyundai-motor-applies-in-car-dual-display-monitor-to-grandeur/
http://www.buyking.com/news/2008/02/news200802181428205
You are late. Mercedes Benz....
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