If You Think Cops Have it Easy

some people have been overwhelmed a bit by the technology in the Prius which i think is the reason why the Prius hasnt taken off (faster or higher?) than it has.

apparently many police departments are having similiar issues dealing with the information systems installed in police cars. many of their issues and complaints read very much like a PriusChat thread

Some of the map information, it turned out, was inaccurate, screens were
cluttered with unnecessary information, the on-screen type was difficult to
read and officers could not easily perform one of the most basic tasks - the
license-plate check.

also complicated functions and the attention required to navigate them are also a problem... especially while driving.

Officers say they are being distracted by the tasks they are expected to
perform on the new system when their full attention should be given to what
is happening outside the patrol car. Sergeant DeMers said one officer
recently was so distracted by what he was doing on the 12-inch touch screen
that he crashed into a parked car.


these excerpts were from the New York Times article entitled "Wanted by the Police: A Good Interface"

By KATIE HAFNER

Published: November 11, 2004