1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Toyota Planning Touch-Sensitive Dashes and Inductive Charging, Trademark Docs Show

Discussion in 'Other Cars' started by Tideland Prius, Jul 27, 2012.

  1. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,851
    16,089
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Full Article
     
    #1 Tideland Prius, Jul 27, 2012
  2. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    6,195
    4,184
    1
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Very cool, I look forward to seeing what they come up with:)
     
    #2 Zythryn, Jul 27, 2012
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,036
    49,113
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i hate the touch screens. i find it difficult to navigate them while driving. i much prefer the buttons toyota added to the pip (and i assume all genIII's) for climate control. just changing the radio station the other day almost sent me off the road!:eek:
     
    #3 bisco, Jul 27, 2012
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,851
    16,089
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Well looks like the touch sensitive technology is here. The Avalon, Mirai and Lexus IS use capacitive-touch temperature or fan speed sliders that allow you to adjust the temperature/fan speed by simply sliding your finger on the appropriate area of the climate control.
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Dec 29, 2014
  5. ftl

    ftl Explicator

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2009
    1,812
    790
    0
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    The problem with all these touch systems is that you have to look at them to see what they're doing, which is a distraction from keeping your eyes on the road. Grabbing a knob and turning it is much less distracting.
     
    #5 ftl, Dec 29, 2014
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,036
    49,113
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    exactly. and when you have winter gloves on? fageddaboudit.
     
    #6 bisco, Dec 29, 2014
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,851
    16,089
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Not really. It's just you're not using to sliding as opposed to turning a knob. With a knob, you still have to look at what temperature you're setting it to, no different from sliding.
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, Dec 29, 2014
  8. ftl

    ftl Explicator

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2009
    1,812
    790
    0
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    But with a knob you can just reach out and grab it. How do you locate your finger at the exact right point on a panel full of virtual sliders without looking?
     
    #8 ftl, Dec 29, 2014
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,851
    16,089
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Good point. A knob is something that protrudes so you run your fingers until you find it. The sliders are metallic (IS/Mirai) or in a trough (Avalon). You can also press the +/- region as well but I think that's harder than sliding.
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, Dec 29, 2014
  10. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2008
    6,195
    4,184
    1
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Some cars allow you to map controls to steering wheel buttons or wheels.
    This, combined with touch screen, in my experience is the best method.

    There is also some premium real estate on touch screens.
    For example, by touch, it is very easy to find the touch screen buttons in the corners.
     
    #10 Zythryn, Dec 29, 2014
    Tideland Prius likes this.
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,036
    49,113
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i find the steering wheel buttons difficult to use with heavy gloves on. although, the hycam is better than the prius.
     
    #11 bisco, Dec 29, 2014
  12. ftl

    ftl Explicator

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2009
    1,812
    790
    0
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    I think the designers need to test this type of control on the same simulators they use for checking how badly distracted people get when trying to text while driving.
    Students Get Reality Check in Texting While Driving Simulator
    I bet they'd find that operating touch controls of that level of complexity would be just as bad.
     
    #12 ftl, Dec 29, 2014
    Tideland Prius likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)