Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[German researchers investigating touchscreen steering wheel]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/11/german-researchers-investigating-touchscreen-steering-wheel/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/11/german-researchers-investigating-touchscreen-steering-wheel/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/11/german-researchers-investigating-touchscreen-steering-wheel/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Touch Screen Steering WheelA group of German researchers are working to develop a new touchscreen steering wheel. The wheel itself is a sheet of acrylic rimmed with infrared LEDs. A single infrared camera picks up reflections on the acrylic when touched, allowing a range of gestures to operate everything from the stereo to climate control. The notion is that the tech will allow drivers to keep their eyes on the road and off the various distractions in the cabin, but we're having a hard time swallowing that premise.

Adding yet another screen to a vehicle and forcing drivers to learn a set of gestures for something as simple as turning up the volume or adjusting the air temperature is bound to only add confusion to the mix. Drivers haven't had any trouble manipulating the controls of their vehicles for decades now, so why bother reinventing the wheel? The good news is that the costs to develop and maintain a device like the touchscreen steering wheel are prohibitive enough to keep manufacturers from considering implementation. Check out the full report over at Physorg.

[Source: Physorg]

German researchers investigating touchscreen steering wheel originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Jun 2011 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We can think of worse things to do than spend a day at a BMW dealership configuring the vehicle of our choice. To make the experience of selecting the Ultimate Driving Machine even more engaging, BMW and Microsoft have teamed up on futuristic touchscreen tech. BMW's Product Navigator is like the iPhone, only supersized and on steroids, and it proves that the inventive types at Microsoft are alive and well. Hit the jump to view BMW's new Product Navigator in action. The tabletop touchscreen interface enables users to pick a BMW, modify colors and content, and even save the finished project to a thumb drive to take home with them. As customers configure their vehicle on the Product Navigator, a plasma TV on the wall displays video and specs of that exact vehicle. Neat. Thanks for the tip, Markus!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: First footage of BMW Product Navigator using Microsoft Surface

VIDEO: First footage of BMW Product Navigator using Microsoft Surface originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Since 1996 all vehicles sold in the United States have been equipped with an OBD-II system, also known as On Board Diagnostics. The reasoning behind requiring the system has a lot to do with the EPA and emissions, but it just so happens to also be a great tool for tuning. You may have noticed the required connector hiding around the dash in the vicinity of the driver's seat. Over time, various companies have developed OBD scanners and data loggers, but there were two of particular interest to us at the 2007 SEMA Show (we're covering the other later).

Magden Technologies brought out their M.1 Performance Computer, a compact box capable of logging the user's choice of OBD channels. The data is saved spreadsheet style and can be transferred via a USB dongle and the box also has the ability to log from user added sensors. The most interesting feature though, is the computer's ability to output video display. Combined with Magden's own touch-screen it makes for a pretty impressive interactive light show.

Gallery: Magden M.1 Performance Computer

SEMA 2007 Spotlight: Magden M.1 Performance Computer originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 03 Nov 2007 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW has made a move to acquire licensing for a new technology called TouchSense from a U.S. company called Immersion. Foursprung reports that this technology makes it possible to make virtual buttons on touch screens sensible, thus providing tactile feedback from a 2-D display. TouchSense could virtually turn your entire center console into a flat-screen display that has the ability to simulate buttons and even provide the resistance of a normal button pushing in. VW-Audi has always been on the forefront of interior design, so we're curious to find out when and where TouchSense technology will show up first. If we're not mistaken, at one of the higher-end aftermarket nav systems already has this capability, though we haven't gotten on our hands on it yet.

Volkswagen gets all touchy-feely with screens originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Dec 2005 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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