2024 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:13
Even if they have changed little on the outside, a lot has changed, especially behind the dashboards. A foray from the speedometer needle to information terror in the modern driver's cockpit.
It has its origins in the name, even if it has nothing to do with it for a long time: people still talk about the dashboard in the cockpit of a car. In fact, however, what was once a fairly clear collection of instruments has developed into a comprehensive control and operating center that often has countless functions and options. For the future, the developers have a number of new ideas in store that should finally make the board a communication center.
At the beginning there was the board
Where the dashboard got its name from is easy to explain: "At first it was actually a piece of wood into which recesses for the instruments were cut," says Dieter Ritter, classic car expert at the Automobile Club of Germany (AvD) in Frankfurt / Main. According to Ritter, the instruments experienced their real breakthrough in the 1920s. At that time, vehicles were designed with increasing attention to detail. The instruments and the dashboard itself were no longer used solely for display purposes - they should also look good. Chrome-plated switches, leather covers and all sorts of decorative details were used.
In front of the board to the pillow
It basically went on like this until the 1960s. It is thanks in particular to Mercedes designer Béla Barényi that the issue of safety has become more important. This was also shown by the fact that the steering wheels were provided with flexible impact pods and the dashboards were increasingly becoming instrument cushions by covering them with soft plastics. In the event of an accident, this should prevent the occupants from suffering serious injuries from impact with hard sheet metal.
Since then, on the one hand, not much has changed, on the other hand, a great deal has happened. In terms of its basic structure, a vehicle cockpit still resembles that of the 1970s - even if it is far more sophisticated and has been further optimized with regard to safety. Even so, the sight of plastic and advertisements prevails. In contrast, the advent of electronics has significantly expanded the ability to display driving values or driving states.
No more than necessary
“The main goal is to offer the driver as much information as necessary and at the same time as little as possible,” says Enno Pflug, spokesman for the technology supplier Continental in Regensburg. The driver should therefore be aware of all the important factors without the technology overwhelming him with unnecessary information. According to Pflug, an important element is the head-up display, which shows information on the windshield. There they are always in the driver's field of vision. The electronics can also show exactly what seems particularly important. Such displays are not only likely to be found in luxury vehicles in the future.
Control by voice command
“Voice control is becoming more and more important,” says Enno Pflug. Above all, there is a trend towards “natural speech output”. This means that the driver no longer has to learn certain terms in order for the technology to understand him. Rather, he can use the usual vocabulary, accents should also be recognized. The purpose is to eliminate the need for switches and thus to distract attention less from what is happening on the road. However, automotive researcher Prof. Ferdinand Dudenhöffer from B&D Forecast in Leverkusen assumes that not every new idea and technology will prevail. The drivers were not enthusiastic about it. The researcher also does not see any futuristic dashboard designs coming in the near future. "The typical round instruments are still popular with customers."
Combination of old = " and new
The developers have recognized this too - and are now trying to combine the classic with the new. “The technology of the speedometer needle has proven itself a million times over, and many car manufacturers will not move away from it,” says Enno Pflug. But because you want to offer additional information, there will in future be the option of showing important information and displays, if necessary, via an otherwise invisible screen in the apparently classic-looking speedometer. This offers the driver the familiar and popular view - but technologically it is a far cry from the old board. (dpa / gms)
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