We are faced with a rapidly increasing flood of information to
the driver. In addition to established information systems (car
radio, vehicle monitoring, mobile phones), high class vehicles
feature navigation systems almost as standard. In the next decade,
driver assistance and collision mitigation systems will appear in
vehicles.
Hence, there is an increasing demand for supplying the driver
with more information that help him to drive safer and more
economical. In parallel, the price decline in the computer market
and the availability of powerful graphic hard- and software
concepts make it possible to enhance the classical functions of the
instrument board to an interactive multifunctional information
panel, and the dashboard will be the main interface between car and
driver. Future vehicle information systems will provide this
information in two information centers, a programmable instrument
cluster with driver relevant information and a center console
display with driver and passenger relevant information. For these
systems the question for additional visual and cognitive stress,
and a possible distraction of the driver by the huge amount of
information, and its complexity becomes predominant.
Reconfigurable instruments (RCI), based on a microprocessor
controlled active matrix color display, provide a powerful
alternative to the usual mechanical/elec-tromechanical cluster
instruments in vehicles. They will help to strengthen passive
safety, they adapt to user and situation requirements, and they are
easy to install, configure, and maintain. RCIs in future cars will
have a tremendous impact on traffic since they canalize much more
information than ever provided to the driver. The functions are
manifold and reach from classical driver information like speed to
navigation and finally to Video and Multimedia access.