Why are touchpads more popular?
The main reason for introducing new technologies is to make life easier for the motorist. But, analyzing what is happening in the world of auto production, the question involuntarily arises: are manufacturers really striving for this?
Need or Opportunity?
In the latest generation cars, the availability of modern systems can be so concentrated that one can lose track of them, let alone exploit them to their full potential.
More often than not, the use of such systems simply demonstrates what the engineers and programmers of companies are capable of. An example of this is the gesture control option in some models of the BMW concern. On the fingers of one hand, you can count those who have fully learned the capabilities of the system and use it to the fullest.
The same can be said for the multimedia touch panel installed in the Jaguar Land Rover. The British manufacturer decided to completely remove all tangible buttons, for which he received praise from aesthetes. In practical terms, however, the panel can only be used when the machine is stationary.
When driving over bumps, the driver must look at the screen to activate the desired function. And this is not safe for traffic. Most likely, for this reason, the company's engineers were given the task of improving the technology. In short, it should be a sensor that does not need to be touched.
New touch screen technology
A group of engineers and scientists working on the project called the system Predictive Touch. It works with special sensors and cameras that track the driver's movement. The software tries to "guess" which option the driver wants to activate before he touches the screen.
JLR estimates this technology will speed up the process of tapping the desired part of the screen by up to 50 percent. Among the advantages of this option is the absence of the need to teach the computer to the driver's gestures. It synchronizes with most of the sensors that are installed in the latest generation cars.
Lack of technology
One of the significant disadvantages of this function is the human factor. Although the program itself recognizes the driver's movements, a person needs to get used to the location of each virtual button on the panel. It is extremely difficult to navigate in space and guess the location of the required key without visual contact.
For this reason, there is great doubt that the system will be much more effective than pressing conventional tactile buttons.
Nevertheless, more and more manufacturers are thinking about equipping their cars with just such a system. This will allow them to save money on the production of boards with physical buttons. At the moment, this technology can be classified as innovation for the sake of innovation. And the benefit in this case is more the automaker than the customer.
