Designing for the Life Span Segment 3
Designing for the Life Span Segment 3 
Previous Slide Next Slide Segment
Index Home First Slide Last Slide
[D]
Automotive control and displays vary with the model year and frequently good design is lost as technology and styles change. Better designs in the 1990s recess the ignition below the top level of the steering column and cover the end of the key with black plastic to eliminate one source of specular glare. The chromium bezels of this design - from the 1970s - and the over glazing on displays present visual difficulties in daylight conditions...
Listen to the Audio (MP3, 350 KB) or read the transcript:
This is the dashboard of a vehicle of the middle 1970s. It predates the impact of safety regulations and the knowledge about issues of reflectivity. Notice the use of chromium on the bezels surrounding the displays and the chrome shift lever and ignition.
The amount of time any driver uses to look at instrumentation is negligible during the act of driving... the external world must - and usually does - command the attention of the driver.
Of late, the industry is using the power of on-board computing to add such novelties as map displays and communications devices including cellular phone connections. These devices should only be used when the car is stopped.
Previous Slide Next Slide Segment
Index
Home First Slide Last Slide