Motors & Drives Information

Automakers currently face the dilemma of how to give customers the increased in-car functionality they demand without creating a corresponding rise in driver distraction. One answer is to better utilize the sense of touch. BMW has done is with its controversial new iDrive system, but will other follow?

Whenever it debuts a new car, BMW usually receives plaudits, not brickbats. But when it recently unveiled its new flagship 7-Series it faced a chorus of criticism about certain aspects of the vehicle, ranging from the exterior styling to the instruction cards included for parking valets so they could learn the complex maneuver of, ah, parking it. But the area that was singled out for the most derision was the iDrive user interface that consolidates control over 700 functions in one large knob. Ironically, the iDrive system has drawn criticism for being too complicated though its chief premise is simplification.

Two major areas are placed under iDrive's control: a driving zone, which centers on functions like steering and shifting, and a comfort zone. The comfort zone includes the navigation system, the telephone book for the on-board phone, audio equipment settings, customized climate control, and more. To use iDrive, the driver (or passenger) manipulates a large silver knob (the "controller") located atop the center console in order to navigate and select functions displayed on a screen in the center of the instrument panel.

TOUCH CONTROL

Key to the functionality is tactile feedback, which is said to allow people to gather information through the sense of touch, while simultaneously allowing them to focus on other tasks-like keeping their eyes on the road. It provides complex sensations that let practiced users tunnel through multiple menus without looking at the display. For example, when scrolling down a phone list the knob will emit a tactile "bump" whenever a name is passed to give the operator a sense of speed and location.

To help develop the tactile feedback aspect of iDrive, BMW turned to Immersion Corp. (San Jose, CA), a small Silicon Valley company that previously worked primarily on enhancing the feel of gaming joysticks and computer mice. Immersion developed the software that assigns unique sensations through the control knob to corresponding images on the system's monitor. It also designed the control unit and oversaw prototype production. (Mass production is being handled by Alps Electric.)

# posted by Medical Information : 3:52 AM