Next generation MFD? - check it out

Unnecessary. The car is designed to prevent that.

 

This would almost seem 'easy' to build for them. For certain, a lot more information can be seen on this screen. Not sure if it is all needed or not, but anything provide us with more information, and a nicer looking display with colors, I am all about.

 

I think it's too one dimensional. They all look the same from a distance and it's going to be difficult to remember which is which until you become very familiar with them. Ideally, they all should look different from each other.

 

From a technical standpoint, this display would be helpful. Although the Prius is a highly technical car, Toyota is wise in marketing it to the general consumer interested in the interactive displays (ie. leaves growing, trees growing, etc). For the next gen MFD, I would hope that Toyota would at least switch to LED/LCD technology with customizable gauge layouts depending on driver preference.
Like 32K, I think it's a bit too similar and would require additional attention off the road to comprehend.

 

FINALLY, a display with info of interest!
Good show!

 

MFD? What a useless piece of trash.

Go look at my post in the "summary of future improvements". I can't believe you people are easily impressed by the upcoming MFD.

The "MFD" should be NOTHING more than a OLED capacitive touchscreen monitor (NOT LCD/LED powered). It should be connect internally to a computer in the trunk of the car that also gets information from the Prius through USB/serial. It should be connected to a wireless antenna (4g with fallback to 3g/rx) that replaces the useless satellite radio antenna.

Then you should be able to install Prius software that displays all the "cool" instruments on the monitor. Because it comes as a "software package", you should be able to install your own computer and just install the Toyota Prius software package on top of windows.

You should be able to install ANY windows software also. You should be able to stream slacker music while driving and tell it to change songs using voice commands. You should be able to turn the car on and have the carputer adjust the PSI and temperatures based on climate data from GPS coordinates.

Imagine the possibilities of installing ANY software you want. Imagine the possibilities of the carputer having access to the different "systems" in the Prius (engine, TPMS, fluids, ventilation, suspension and structure etc).

Going on a rough road? The carputer detects this and adjusts the tire pressures.
Just hit a huge pothole? See the structural damage analysis shown by the carputer.
Need to get somewhere fast? The carputer checks traffic data in realtime and does some number crunching to calculate routes.
Need to see if you need service? See component wear and tear in REAL TIME.
Got a component problem? The diagnostic app contacts Toyota and downloads REALTIME data based on error code and solution.
Stuck in a long 6 hour detour? Cool, goto amazon VOD and watch a movie.
Need to look at your center console to change something while in traffic and the car in front just moved? The center console tells you the car in front of you just moved so you should move to.
There is an app for everything!

To reduce costs, Toyota just has to publish a "app plugin system" so third parties can develop their own apps that "pops in" the Prius Software "dashboard" in windows.

That is REAL innovation.

 

The likelyhood of the new-look MFD becoming a future improvement aside; its a heck of an idea but could use a little more in the graphic design department. Despite the utilitarian, geometric looks a wealth of info is within eyeshot. If the display doesn't jack price up any it works for me.

 

How about Toyota providing an API for the graphical display. That way third party applications could be written to allow customization. All of the control software is safely isolated on ECUs; why not let the technical community contribute to the user interface? This approach has worked very well in the Open Source community.

Tom

 

More useful information. I would like to display air temperature in degrees Celsius to conform with the US System of Measurement (SI).

 

The US System of Measurement is not SI, and uses degrees Fahrenheit as the standard unit of temperature.

Tom

 

For that to happen, you need a carputer, period. All Prius should come with a carputer with Windows and Prius Software Dashboard installed. You should be able to install your own carputer if you want and then install the Prius Software after installing Windows. The Prius driver software package automatically tells the carputer to goto sleep when the car turns off etc etc.

Prius software dashboard allows any app developers to develop apps for it and also to read ANY of the Prius' system data and maybe even adjust it. Taking a road trip in different climates? Have the climate app change the car climate based on exact GPS coordinates in REAL TIME!

Imagine a Radar system that can be installed and a Radar app that will scan the road surface ahead for potholes and blocks. It quickly warns the driver that there is a pothole ahead or a sudden block in traffic and to slow down.

You want to use the US measurement system? That's fine, it's called "localization" and Windows by default supports it. Change your localization settings in Windows and the Prius software will display it in african if you wanted! Hell, you can display the water pump RPM if you wanted to.


You DECIDE what you want and HOW you want to display in the Prius Dashboard software. Not Toyota. Not the dealership.

On my current Prius, I have installed a UMPC with 3g. I can stream slacker, pandora, youtube, grooveshark (who needs satellite radio?) and use voice commands. I can display the air temperature in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. The new MFD by Toyota cannot.
I can get the latest weather data directly from NOAA based on exact GPS coordinates. Can the new MFD do that? No.
Want to post your MPG data? There is an app for that too!

Toyota has a huge opportunity to grab the market (there is zero competition in this area) and develop a "Vehicle App Dashboard System" (VADS) software that can be installed on Windows and reads/adjusts vehicle systems data. Once everybody starts developing millions of apps for it, other manufacturers will probably buy the VADS software from Toyota and install it on their cars too....this would also lead to standardization in diagnostic systems and error data.

 

+1

 

@mwok86

And what about the mac's users ?

 

Graphically, CAN-View is like the C64 version of the next gen MFD.

 

As long as they want to add some color, they should have the fuel gauge turn yellow or red when you are at the last bar. It is easy to miss the little faded monochrome blinking cursor until the fuel is dangerously low. Most cars have a dedicated low fuel warning light that lights up only when the fuel gets low, but the Prius omits this.

 

I like it
Especially the odometer and trip on the same screen with MPG info