Today's vehicle is subject to a multitude of displays (analogue and digital) that demand the attention of the driver. The driver is expected to monitor and respond to such displays while driving in a safe manner. Each newly added function requires its own individual control and/or information device. As the number of displays increase, so does the distraction of having to monitor so much information. This, creates reading and operating conditions that may jeopardize safety.
The above mentioned problems have led to the development of an integrated driver information management system, for the reduction of stress levels for commercial vehicle drivers. All vital information pertaining to the driver is hierarchically displayed on a centrally located screen directly within the driver's field of vision, eliminating the need to monitor various displays simultaneously.
The integrated driver information management system automatically registers deviations from key vehicle monitoring values. The driver can interact with the system via menu keys located on the steering column or some other convenient location. The system is extremely flexible due to its open architecture design. So, the display menu can handle a variety of functions, such as diagnostic information, navigation and routing information, fuel economy information, and so on. Any information that needs to be presented to the driver is hierarchically displayed with optional audio feedback. The integrated driver information management system utilizes the vehicles data bus structure.