Archive for May, 2014

An idea for a car UI

car UI 4

So, I’m sure it’s been done, but why not mount your screen in the middle of the steering wheel?

This isn’t a touchscreen, by the way – it’s operated by four buttons down each side (remember the Nokia 9100?) – at any time there are different options (words on the screen) by each button.

So, you don’t have to take your hands off the wheel, wave your hand in mid-air, and attempt (and often fail) to touch an icon on a touchscreen. Just use your thumbs.

And your eyes are as little removed as possible from the action in front of you. In fact, most activities would just be muscle memory from your thumbs – you wouldn’t have to take your eyes off the road *at all* to tap the sequence of button that means (say) “Main Menu” – “Radio” – “Preset 3”.

(You can make a case for the screen & buttons rotating with the wheel as you turn it, or staying put – either would be fine though.)

So: eyes on the road, hands on the wheel, and no mis-types. What’s not to like?