[bretbernhoft]

I spend a lot of time designing and building interfaces for work and pleasure. That said, I've been wondering recently, what kind of dashboard is ideal for a smart car of the future? Would it be minimalistic or obtuse? What are your thoughts on this?

 

[smark]

The smart crossover concept vehicle, features one large information screen. To handle all the cars features. Simple clean, looks like a Beats sound system will be available. The next generation smart car will be all grown up.

 

[colin25]

They seem to be going backwards with information. I used to have a rev counter on previous Smarts 450 and 451 clock pods, but my 453 does not have one, as its optional cost on my model. But it has plenty of clocks, one on the radio, one on the dash, and if i had the rev counter it has a clock. I think three clocks is overkill

 

[OliverB]

And the tach/dash clock runs loses time while the radio clock gains time.

 

[smark]

You don’t need a rev counter, on electric cars.

 

[Jo e Lefors]

They seem to be going backwards with information. I used to have a rev counter on previous Smarts 450 and 451 clock pods, but my 453 does not have one, as its optional cost on my model. But it has plenty of clocks, one on the radio, one on the dash, and if i had the rev counter it has a clock. I think three clocks is overkill

My first 08 smart cabrio.
had tach & clock pods. Why another clock, there is one incorporated with the speedometer display.
Something actually useful like a engine temperature gauge would have really been SMART.

 

[colin25]

Something actually useful like a engine temperature gauge would have really been SMART.

You do have this on the 453, its on one of the display pages you can select.

Talking about car clocks, one of my last cars (not Smart) had a great idea, the clock sync-ed with the time signal on the radio automatically, it was always correct, and you did not have to set the clock 1 hour forward manually in spring, and one hour back manually in winter, it was automatic.

 

[DudeInTheSmart]

Unless the car is self driving, all key controls should be physical switches and dedicated displays. I'm a fan of the analog gage pod on my 453 ED. I'd reverse it , however, and make the battery level the major gage and current draw as minor.

 

[bretbernhoft]

Unless the car is self driving, all key controls should be physical switches and dedicated displays. I'm a fan of the analog gage pod on my 453 ED. I'd reverse it , however, and make the battery level the major gage and current draw as minor.

That's an interesting perspective. Do you prefer the physical switches and dedicated displays because they are more tactile and consistent/dependable?

 

[DudeInTheSmart]

Exactly. With physical switches, the same function always occurs from the same location and you can tell switch position by feel without looking. Touch screen is fine for radio, but anything necessary for vehicle operation should never be behind a menu system.

On my Subaru, there is a prominent gage that shows immediate fuel consumption, a very unimportant data element. The actual fuel gage is a small monochrome digital bar that I have to look for. Knowing when my fuel level is going into reserve is actually important, but much harder to find than burn rate.

 

[bretbernhoft]

Exactly. With physical switches, the same function always occurs from the same location and you can tell switch position by feel without looking. Touch screen is fine for radio, but anything necessary for vehicle operation should never be behind a menu system.

On my Subaru, there is a prominent gage that shows immediate fuel consumption, a very unimportant data element. The actual fuel gage is a small monochrome digital bar that I have to look for. Knowing when my fuel level is going into reserve is actually important, but much harder to find than burn rate.

This is great feedback. I appreciate your responses.

I've been developing user interfaces for websites for about a decade. I'm now curious how the rest of the world views (as you described it) a "menu system" for essentially everything or anything else. I too enjoy dedicated/physical interfaces for their dependability and the tactile experience. Even at my computer this is true.

Now, you did mention that if the car was fully automatic (on autopilot) that you might engage with an interface that was digital. Is that right? I've seen this to some extent in existing vehicles with "call by voice" features that automatically dial outgoing and accept incoming calls, accomplished largely by voice alone.

The interfaces of the future will, in all honesty, go well beyond a touch screen. But that's a dialogue for another thread.

 

[DudeInTheSmart]

At the point there is no control, but just setting a location to go to, then there is no real-time input. Having physical control is important for real time. If the automated vehicle will have some type of control override, then it needs to be proper physical control, not some emergency setting in a menu.

 

[Sal marinosci]

I would love to know how to put a temp gauge in both of my 451 2009 cabrios

 

[smark]

You don’t need a temp gauge in a EV either. Unless your monitoring the battery temperature.
When it comes to physical controls. You still have a steering wheel, turn signals, and wiper control. There might be even a selector. For eco, normal, and sport driving. One pedal driving too. Adjusting you seat, will never go away.

 

[Sal marinosci]

My cars are not ev’s they are gas engines and no temp gauge, most of these engines fail due to overheating. Right now I have to change the thermostat in one of mine. If I could install one easily I would.

 

[smark]

My cars are not ev’s they are gas engines and no temp gauge, most of these engines fail due to overheating. Right now I have to change the thermostat in one of mine. If I could install one easily I would.

The topic is about instrument panels, of the future here. Next generation smart will be a EV.