2010 Toyota Prius: The steering wheel wants your Touch (Tracer Display)
There is one aspect of the 2010 Prius that AutoblogGreen didn't highlight in its recent info overload post on the 2010 Toyota Prius: the Touch Tracer Display. There is usually nothing in front of the speedometer in most cars; we want a clear view of how fast we're going, right? But there are also a lot of buttons on the steering wheel and constantly shifting our view from the road to the volume or temperature controls isn't exactly a safe way to drive. To combat furtive downward glances, Toyota has come up with the TTD, which goes into action when you push the circular buttons on the steering wheel. Doing so causes little orange lights to appear on a screen that looks as if it's hovering on top of the speedometer. The effect is definitely neat and kind of surprising the first time it happens. Once you learn to expect it, however, the feature is a great visual cue to go along with the wheel-mounted controls. Toyota says this is the "the first display system in the world to allow steering wheel controls to read out on the instrument panel." We doubt it'll be the last.
Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius
[Source: Toyota]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
casey 8:01PM (3/04/2009)
but with the speedo/instruments in the center of the dash, is this technology really all that safe and/or useful? i could see it being put to better use with the speedo in its 'normal' position, in front of the driver.
unless i'm wrong about the new Prius having centered instruments...
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Flashpoint 11:28PM (3/04/2009)
I don't care if gas hits $20 a gallon.
I wouldn't be caught DEAD in a Prius.
R 1:50AM (3/05/2009)
@Flashpoint: Fascinating.
MajorGeek 8:04PM (3/04/2009)
Leftover N64 controllers?
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Mwmorph 8:08PM (3/04/2009)
The prius does indeed have central instruments. It's odd but the placement doesnt actually detract from visibility once you get used to it. It actually enchances visibility(assuming decent sized instruments, not like on the 1st gen xB)... the problem is getting used to it.
I dont understand why automakers dont add HUDs. GM has been doing it for years and this would be the perfect application. Speedometer+odometer+vital info like battery charge/steering wheel controls floating at he bottom of you view on the glass seems to just make sense and it isnt expensive at all.
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DJ 12:06PM (3/05/2009)
When I switched recently from a vehicle with a centre mounted gauge cluster to the old steering wheel position, I found that I missed it, but it’s really only a matter of being accustomed to one or the other. I can’t understand why everyone moans and complains about the centre mounted cluster, it makes far more sense, and actually offers packaging and ergonomics improvements.
why not the LS2LS7? 8:27PM (3/04/2009)
Pointless. You need feedback before you press the buttons, not after. I can tell I raised the volume or mode by listening once I've done it.
The simple tactile buttons provide more feedback than these displays, and with even less attention.
Now, if the displays lit up when you merely touched the buttons instead of as you press them, then it could tell me something about where my finger is before I've committed to my action.
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BoxerFanatic 8:36PM (3/04/2009)
Have to agree.
If you have to have many buttons, haptics is where it is at.
And why do you need 10 buttons on the steering wheel directly? is the console completely out of reach?
and just displaying what you are doing already, it is distracting. It might start to look like error lights coming up, then when error lights do come up, they get ignored more easily.
Information economy is just as important as information availability. Ergonomics and useage study is important, and not to just be thrown together.
I would much rather see the advent of HUD information that is actually pertinent, rather than just visual duplication of ancillary information.
Mazda FTW! 10:09PM (3/04/2009)
"I would much rather see the advent of HUD information that is actually pertinent, rather than just visual duplication of ancillary information."
Now say that in English :)
steve.ricken 10:21PM (3/04/2009)
I agree, I think raised buttons would be MUCH easier for someone to tell, using tactile feedback, rather than looking down. Take for example my Chevy key fob. UNLOCK is raised, while LOCK is a depression. Makes sense to me when I feel it.
Also, how about a display on the windshield? Easier to see.
JZ 11:06PM (3/04/2009)
Actually the digital display does pop up and highlight what button your finger is on BEFORE you press down. It's a pretty nice feature.
Dave 8:44AM (3/05/2009)
They do light up before you press them. They sense touch then you can push the switch.
tekd 11:56AM (3/05/2009)
Eh, normally you have to reach over and hit the little recirculate button on the dashboard, whose little light lights up.
This just makes it so that they can put all kinds of controls on the steering wheel that normally need lights on the dash, and now you can still tell whether you hit it correctly cuz it's on the HUD.
I agree that it's less useful for something like volume controls where you can tell already, but for the other stuff it'll prevent you from having to look down.
It's not a revolution or anything but it's still nice to be able to keep your eyes on the road if you want to.
Patrick 12:41PM (3/05/2009)
Yup. It is 'neat' but totally unnecessary. After 1 day, you know exactly where the buttons are by feel and you don't need to look down at them. Want to reduce costs? Cut out gimmicky tech like this.
The most useful display technology is a HUD. I would love to see this on more cars.
exkart 11:25PM (3/04/2009)
Display on the windshield are what's missing in my daily drive, we need more of that.
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christopher.r.stevenson 11:54PM (3/04/2009)
How about just creating a more ergonomic layout so that people don't have to look down? I never have to look down on my car.
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RicoChet 8:09AM (3/05/2009)
My Grand Prix GXP has HUD and I love it so much. HUD would be the most missed feature of my car when I have to trade it in for something else, I haven't looked at my dash in years.
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Bill E 12:29PM (3/05/2009)
How about you guys try the unit then make your decision?
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Mobilehavoc 10:55AM (3/09/2009)
Or you could do what Audi does and put clickable scroll-wheels on either side of the steering wheel. Right one controls volume, click to repeat voice nav guidance. Left one scrolls up/down the MMI interface (phone, music, nav, menu, etc.) and click to select. Apart from that there's 2 big ass buttons, a Mode button on left side and a Voice Command on the right. THAT'S IT.
Tactile feedback, and you can do stuff without even needing any visual cues or any of this crap Toyota has to because they cram so many buttons on their steering wheels.
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