Smart, but flawed: Steering wheel navigation screen
The latest gizmo from Japan’s Takata will tell you where to go, but not like those verbally abusive digital keychains from the ’90s. The Takata CSW steering wheel is designed to interface with sensors in your vehicle and display different messages on an LCD screen in the 12 o’clock position. There are already lights and sirens to let you know if your door is ajar or the washer fluid is low, but the CSW wheel’s best trick is that it will talk to the Navigon 7100 navigation system, should you have one. It’s an interesting cross-brand lashup that is pushing the envelope of aftermarket integration.
The screen in the wheel works in conjunction with the larger screen in the navigation unit to display instructions, though the improvement over just the Navigon would likely be sufficient. Both the wheel and the Navi can reportedly poll vehicle sensors, though we’re not sure exactly how, so the systems would be more aware of what the driver is doing beyond merely position data. Both companies hope the wheel will reduce driver distraction, though we’re not convinced that looking down to the wheel rim is any safer or more convenient than the slight gaze diversion to the customary upper center of the dashboard. We don’t know of any manufacturer plans to OEM-issue these units, but the effort could portend a future convergence in the gadget galaxy.
[Source: Navigadget via Kicking Tires; Photo: SoundDomain]
Related posts:
- CES 2008: Navigon takes GPS back to the basics To bring you every GPS device on display at CES, we'd need to start GPSblog. Instead we're gonna hit the ones we think stand out from the crowd, like the Navigon 7100 you see here.While the thing to...
- Porsche Design launching personal navigation system No official word from Porsche, but rumors have Porsche Design teaming up with navigation software specialists Navigon AG to launch a Porsche Design personal navigation product, the P9611.The sleek...
- Smart driver takes the ride of his life When the driver of a large truck on the German autobahn felt a slight bump, he thought it was a stone in the road. In reality it was a Smart ForTwo driving about 60 mph. The truck pushed the little...
- MINI gets iDrive - uses joystick instead of dial Motoring File is reporting that for 2007 the MINI will receive a new navigation system that is basically a slightly altered version of BMW's now infamous iDrive system. The iDrive controller will be...
- Navigation company partners with MapQuest TomTom Inc., the Dutch producer of all-in-one navigation devices, today announced that it has partnered with AOL-owned MapQuest to launch the MapQuest Personal Navigation Device.The MapQuest...
Tags: american le mans, bonus, buicks, cadillac V8, celica gt4, chris forsberg, classic car fans, classic reflection Coachworks, commisioned, dramatic changes, ecru, flip a bitch, FlipABitch, gadgets, handiwork, JMays, Maintenance, memorial trophy, original works, outlying areas, PietBoon, pontiac g5, positive feedback, san jose mercury news, speakers, stage 1, steering wheel, SVO Mustang, sydney auto show, tc moonroof, toyota coupe, twin-turbo four-cylinder, Twin-turboFour-cylinder, virtual auction, WindscreenWipers, women view