Vehicle Driver Interface with Physical Shortcut Switches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable information devices for vehicle drivers require excessive attention and time to navigate through multiple touch screen interactions, posing a safety risk during driving conditions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of individual control switches that allow direct access to specific applications or functions, enabling quick switching between display modes with minimal attention required, using toggle access switches to easily return to previous modes while maintaining background application functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a touch screen interface is used for all controls, then the device can be made compact and modern, but the driver requires excessive attention and time to navigate through multiple touch interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface is segmented into two types: touch screen for general navigation and physical shortcut buttons for direct access to specific functions. This segmentation allows critical driving functions to be accessed quickly through dedicated physical buttons while non-critical functions use the touch interface, resolving the contradiction between modern interface design and rapid function access.
Solution Approach 2:
The shortcut buttons are pre-configured with specific functions (navigation, phone, media) so that the driver can access these functions directly without performing preliminary navigation steps through the touch interface. This preliminary assignment of functions to physical buttons eliminates the time required to navigate through multiple touch interactions.
2Ease of operation
If multiple touch screen interactions are required to access functions, then the interface can be integrated into a single display, but the driver's attention and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Critical control functions are extracted from the touch screen interface and assigned to dedicated physical shortcut buttons. This extraction allows these essential functions to be accessed quickly and reliably through tactile feedback, improving both ease of operation and driving safety by reducing the cognitive load and time required to access critical functions.
Solution Approach 2:
Physical shortcut buttons serve as an intermediary between the driver and the device functions. These buttons provide tactile feedback and direct electrical connection to specific functions, acting as a mediator that translates simple button presses into immediate function activation without requiring complex touch interface navigation, thereby improving reliability and safety.
3Device complexity
If physical control switches are eliminated in favor of touch screen, then the device design is simplified, but the driver cannot quickly access functions with minimal attention
Solution Approach 1:
The control mechanism is segmented into touch screen for general interface control and physical shortcut buttons for rapid function access. This segmentation maintains simplified device design while restoring the ability to quickly access functions through tactile physical buttons, resolving the contradiction between design simplicity and operational speed.
Data Source
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AI summary
Portable information device (1) for a vehicle driver comprising an electronic controller (4), a display touch screen (2), communication means (7) geolocating means (6), wherein the information device (1) comprises a plurality of individual control switches (3), each in correspondence with one of the applications, in which the electronic controller is adapted to switch, upon an actuation of one of the individual control switch from a current display to a display mode dedicated to the application corresponding to the actuated switch, whereby a direct access to certain functions or applications is easily provided to the driver, and to return to the initial display upon a second subsequent actuation of the same control switch. Method to control the device accordingly.