Monday, January 10, 2011

a bigger HMI is still an HMI


I have to disagree with the telematics experts at Continental here - I don't think the answer to ease-of-use and minimal driver distraction is porting cell phone content to a larger screen on the car.  it's still a distraction - maybe an easier-to-read distraction.
A better solution is already out there - audibal navigation with turn-by-turn directions and spoken street names accomplishes this for the most part.  I'm more impressed with technology like Ford's Synch  that makes this so much easier and less intrusive.  

The interview on LBS Zone:
 
Nokia Interview - Aiming for the perfect integrated mobile phone-vehicle navigation solution 

"as Continental points out, displaying navigation information on a small and static mobile phone screen while inside a car is the wrong human machine interface (HMI)."