iDrive to be replaced with a touchpad????????

Kirby · Dec 5, 2004

What do you think - wicked [headbang] or whacked [screwy]

????? My guess is BMW and Mercedes.

LIVONIA, Mich., Dec. 1 PRNewswire-FirstCall --

TRW Automotive Electronics and Components GmbH and Co. KG today unveiled its latest touch sensor technology which has the capability to transform human / machine interfaces for control systems. The company is working with two major German vehicle manufacturers to bring the technology to market in 2007.

TRW's touch sensor technology uses a control surface, much like that of a laptop computer, in place of mechanical switches. The technology replaces traditional mechanical control functions from simple on and off switches, through larger input devices such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC).

TRW has also developed a multifunction control module for interface with driver information and communication systems. A key feature is the capability for handwriting recognition, which enables fast and intuitive operation of mobile phones and navigation systems.

Ernst Hafner, new business development manager of TRW Automotive's Body Control Systems organization for Europe and emerging markets, explained: "TRW touch sensor technology has significant advantages for the driver. We can group many functions together, and our research has demonstrated that it offers significant ergonomic and packaging improvements.

"In particular, independent tests have demonstrated that the handwriting recognition touch sensor offers reduced driver distraction and improved control and character input speed compared with the driver interfacing directly with a mobile telephone or navigation system. The technology recognizes hand written numbers, letters and symbols. The user 'writes' individual characters with a single finger on the touch sensor area which is recognized by software and can be acknowledged by audible feedback -- enabling complex input without requiring the driver's eyes to leave the road ahead."

Applications for the new technology include controls for doors and mirrors, air outlet functions, and steering wheel functions. It offers new possibilities for interior design and materials and 3D integration with styled vehicle surfaces.

TRW is developing both the simple and multi level control and handwriting concepts for launch in 2007.

jrt67ss350 · Dec 5, 2004

What ever happened to having a simple switch or dial whose location you could remember by touch and use it to turn something on or off without having to take your eyes off the road? In my BMW, I can alter all functions of my HVAC system, rear defroster, headlights, foglights, and radio volume and station scanning without removing my eyes from the road.

Now they want me to have to write things with my finger to alter my HVAC settings? Give me the buttons and dials back!!!

Militant-Grunt · Dec 5, 2004

their just going to put more electronics into those cars that are just waiting to brake, as if they dont have enought electronic gadet problems with the cars as it is.

PhatBimmer · Dec 5, 2004

Ok, now its total shit, I can handle iDrive...I even go to the lenghts of defending BMW for it, but this touchpad shit has gone far enough, I'm probably gonna switch over to being a Porsche fan or something, this is becoming incredibly stupid and I'm so mad! [:(!]

andreyiv · Dec 5, 2004

So if you want to open the driver's window a little bit you would have to write something like, "window, driver, open 1 (meaning one position out of lets say available 5)" instead of just pressing and holding that little button for one second, and they want people to like it more and get less distracted? Like a friend of mine says, "what are YOU smoking?". As it is now if one switch breaks, you don't have operation of one thing, but with this, the stupid touch pad breaks and you are screwed completely huh? What if you spill coffee on it while driving to work in the morning in the freezing cold with all the windows closed, doors locked and the heater turned on full? Hope you don't shut the engine off with that or you would be ABSOLUTELY screwed.
Just by "show of hands" how many people like to have a different button for every different function instead of using menus? The thing is, they would have to put everything in there under categories/folders and you wouldn't be able to just increase the volume with a quick turn of your wrist when your favorite song comes on, you would actually have to go through different menus and if your lucky not miss that one beat you love the most. My opinion is that they are complicating things way too much, I mean, with this you have to plan everything in advance, "Hmmmm, I need to roll up my windows because it might rain in the next half an hour since if I don't I won't be able to do it in time".
Reminds me of that top gear episode with that A8 milage test where Jeremy said that if everyone had to think this hard about driving safe as I have to think about saving gas, there would practically be no car crashes (or something along those lines). Drivers of the ultimate driving machine don't want to think about speeling a word right in an extreme situation, they want to think about driving and the road.
Just my two cents, sorry for making it seem like it is closer to a dollar, just a little bored.

epj3 · Dec 5, 2004

Does bmw realize this is going to absolutely RAPE the resale? You can't even put an aftermarket sound system in!!!!!!!!!!! Total BULLSHIT.

I sure as hell wouldn't buy a used 5, 6, or 7 in the future, especially if I couldn't do anything but brakes myself - which you probalby need a special tool for. I think its time for me to stop considering a BMW as a possible car in the future. They are so full of shit. They don't even drive as nice as they used to (less connected). Maybe GM will buy BMW and turn 'em around. Seems like GM is trying to turn around for the better. Why's BMW doing the opposite?

jrt67ss350 · Dec 5, 2004

It simply serves no useful purpose. Why do we need all of this complicated computer based gadgetry to do simple things like increase the HVAC blower speed? It's just not needed.

Others have said it before, but I really do think BMW is quickly moving away from putting the driver/driving experience as the focus of their cars. It seems they are all about the latest fads and trying to keep up with the Jones's now.

andreyiv · Dec 5, 2004

Yeah deffinately. Look at something like an e36 or earlier interior and lets say the new 7, they are complitelly different and not different in the way that I like. One company that does seem to come back to the better past is porsche, at least somebody knows what they are doing.

Chesty Bonds · Dec 5, 2004

jrt67ss350 said:

Your gaddamn right. All this gadgety s*** is just a total marketing gimmick conceived by the boffins in the marketing departments. Why do the manufacturers take the engineering away from the engineers I wonder? I mean those guys that design and make the cars are the real enthusiasts, not a bunch of computer-geek, revenue-hungry, arseholes!

It's just such a joke and I reckon all the software problems will come back to bite BMW and Merc in the arse. I hope they do.

Chesty Bonds · Dec 5, 2004

epj3 said:

FUC*ING OATH! I just cannot understand all this shit that BMW spin with all this unnecessary technology. F*** that and dial in some responsiveness and communication on the new BMWs.

This is so depressing. And there seems to be NOTHING we can do about it. Perhaps if we all sent a strongly-worded letter to BMW??? We have to save them from their own idiocy! [:(!]

jrt67ss350 · Dec 5, 2004

I think it's all just a ploy to increase the prices of their cars. Add more useless crap that costs a fortune and they can charge more for the cars and increase their profit margins. As if BMWs aren't expensive enough already.

I had always planned to get a BMW after I got rid of my E30. I'm beginning to think that isn't going to happen now. My fiancee has told me that she would absolutely hate any car where she had to navigate a computer system to change A/C and radio settings. Likewise, I don't need or want a computer system to act as the interface between me and the car. I want my hands and ass to be the interface between me and the car. BMW is going to lose me to Saab unless things change within the next few years when I am in the market for a new car.

Wallie05 · Dec 5, 2004

I hope this is some kind of sick joke. But I fear not, the fact that the article mentions two German manufacturers is worrying. I figured if BMW keeps getting crazy, I could switch to Mercedes or Audi. Now it looks like I might only have one (German) option left. Up until now, I was just toying with the idea of switching to a Lexus or Infiniti for my next purchase. But if sh*t like this materializes and keeps happening, I'm taking my money else where for sure....

Wallie05 · Dec 5, 2004

I'm sorry, I just can't help myself here. WHAT THE F*CK ARE THEY THINKING!?!? You think BMW would get it by now that many of their buyers don't want their techno-gizmo bullshit!! F*CK i-drive and f*ck this new shit, too!!

[V]

aNoodle · Dec 6, 2004

I'm gonna have to write out "lower driver's door window 20 MM" "crack rear right passenger window"!?!?

bmw046series · Dec 6, 2004

You'd think just a plain old touch screen lcd would be a lot easier.

gbf1lm · Dec 6, 2004

i doubt it. bmw's whole philosophy is dont look away from the road. ppl would want to see what theyre writing which woul dmess that all up. thats the whole thing behind idrive, a knob u can feel and reach for, and a quick glance over to the screen, rather that an lcd you can touch and have to hunt for which item to press on teh screen which feels all the same.

epj3 · Dec 6, 2004

jrt67ss350 said:

And me to audi/porsche. Even if audi used this silly touch pad, i'd buy a new audi before a new bmw. They are starting to perform better, cost less, and look MUCH BETTER.

Chesty... did we just agree on something!?!? I think this should be an official world-wide holidy [:p]

epj3 · Dec 6, 2004

aNoodle said:

I can't imagine it would control the windows - i'm sure they'll still have switches (but of course they'd probably put them on the door, not the center console. we have to be like everyone else!!!)

Not only that, why should you have to go through 5 or 6 menus to change the blower speed down one level?? I was using the idrive demo at the dealer and it's a bunch of BS. I can reach down and adjust my hvac system in 2 seconds - with my eyes of the road for maybe half a second to see the numbers. Same with the stereo - in fact I learned the 'feel' of the buttons, i dont even have to LOOK at it to change the station or album - and thats an insane-number-of-buttons alpine!!

andreyiv · Dec 6, 2004

Yup, you get used to that Alpine that you have pretty easily. I think I would be able to change the built in cross over settings faster than somebody would be able to lower the HVAC fan speed. Complete BS, they should learn from Alpine, everything is just natural. Eh, don't think they will ever learn.

Wallie05 · Dec 6, 2004

gbf1lm said:

Actually, GB, one of the biggest criticisms of I-drive (apart from it being too complicated and prone to malfunction) is that it does force drivers to take their eyes of the road. I've used i-drive before. 1) It's not intuitive, and 2) sometimes you have to spend minutes paging through screens to control various HVAC/comfort setting, radio and GPS functions. It's rare that you can just glance down, scroll, and find immediately what you're looking for. Give me knobs, buttons, and switches any day.

On a further note. I realize that top-end cars are offering more features now-a-days and they need some system to control it all. But I think Audi has a done a great job of coming up with a knob-style system, but still retaining plenty of buttons. I haven't tried Audi's MMI system, but from what I've read and what I've seen, it looks easier to use.

Plenty of buttons around Audi's MMI to access the functions you're looking for, right away.

iDrive to be replaced with a touchpad????????

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