Consumers Demand Control Through (lamborghini) Human Machine Interface Technology
No commentsBy Mike Trudel
”Human-Inter-what?” clipped Simon, peeking over his morning paper with a loud crinkle. A favorite farmer of seventy-eight years at my local coffee shop, Simon never failed to give me the truth precisely as he saw it. I had asked him what he thought of Human Machine Interface Technology. “Sounds like science fiction to me. Don’t we already interact - interface, whatever - with machines? How else are we supposed to run the things?”
I laughed, but in a down-to-earth, back-to-common-sense way, Simon was right on. One encyclopedia explains Human-Machine Interface (HMI) technology, also known as user interface technology as the whole means by which human users interact with a particular system, such as a device, computer program or machine. HMI provides a mechanism by which users can input or manipulate a system, and provides the system a way to output or produce the effects of the users’ manipulation.
It’s not really so complicated. HMI is a broad term describing the “layer” between a person interacting with the machine and the machine itself. Applications are varied - from medical prostheses, such as cochlear implants, to computer-human interactions to the operation of vehicular Global Positioning System (GPS) devices.
For example, Web-based user interfaces accept input and provide output by generating Web pages transmitted via the Internet, which are then viewed by users through Web browser programs. Different implementations are utilized to provide real-time control in a separate program, effectively abolishing the need to refresh a traditional HTML-based Web browser.
The more exciting technologies include touch interfaces, which serve as excellent examples of the public’s increasing demand to be in control of their environment and their machines. Touch interfaces are graphical user interfaces using a touch-screen display as a device for both input and output.
This insistence is becoming apparent in the automotive industry, where consumers are demanding to be well-connected and in control. Most vehicular GPS devices, for example, are touch interfaces. Steering wheel controls can also use HMI technology to keep drivers connected through different wireless and electronic apparatuses. Certain corporations are even releasing vehicles in which much of the cockpit is run by HMI technology, such as reconfigurable instrument clusters, reconfigurable head-up displays (HUD), warning systems and multifunctional controls.
The trend seems to be in fewer gauges - reducing six-gauge systems, for example, to fewer with reconfigurable displays. There may be more use of a center cockpit, touch screens and reconfigurable thin film transistor (TFT) displays in the future, as well.
A report about HMI technologies stated the importance for designers to understand that HMI determines an operator’s perception about a machine. Designers are of vital importance, it went on to say, because operators need to be able to trust the apparatus - and trust their interactions with it - in order to make the technology successful. How skillful and mindful HMI designers are in their work will, in large part, determine that. HMI empowerment will come through ease-of-use features, ease of programmability, easy understanding and clear information displays.
According to that study, a portion of the designer population still considers HMI just a tool, but many technologies with vital benefits are poised to make HMI the central command station for monitoring and control operations. This technology has the power to transform equipment into better interactive instruments.
Focus will increasingly be on the integration of hardware and software across horizontal and vertical lines, as well as on security issues associated with HMI software, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. Escalating complexity and the high volume of connections requires this to be of current and future concern. Likewise, agility and portability are proving to be important trends in human-machine interaction and user experience research.
Mike Trudel, Freelance Writer.
Delphi Corp. is poised to apply its expertise and know-how to provide vehicle manufacturers and consumers with in-vehicle connectivity. To learn more about Delphi Corp., please visit www.Delphi.com/4Innovation or www.Delphi.com/4Connected.
How to Choose the Most Convenient Auto Club
By Amy Nutt
Choosing an auto club is a very important choice. It isn’t enough to simply choose whatever auto club program comes your way. That is because each auto club is different in that they have their own set of benefits and price ranges. It is important to explore all of these options in order to find the program that is the right program. The wrong program is going to provide you with things you don’t need and those things you do need won’t be available to you. To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, make sure you do your research.
The pros and cons
There are certain pros and cons that must be evaluated when choosing the most convenient auto club. This includes cost, whether or not roadside assistance is included, if travel discounts are offered, and if any other discounts are provided to members. When it comes to cost, the cost of an auto club membership can exceed that of your regular roadside assistance. However, the auto club is going to provide you with more benefits.
As mentioned before, there are possible discounts included for when you travel. There are also discounts possibly included when you’re not traveling. For example, you can eat at a restaurant that honors your auto club card and receive 10% off of your meal total. You can also find discounts at retail outlets and outlets on the internet.
In regards to how the discounts work, a travel discount is going to provide you with savings on vacation packages, rental cars, hotels, cruises, and so much more. The discount is only relevant to traveling and nothing else. Other discounts include the restaurants and the retail outlets. A discount program is very important because that means you’re going to save some money while traveling. That is money that can be used to do something extra or eat at that extra special restaurant. Those discounts can also be the difference between staying in a 3 star hotel and staying in a 4 star hotel.
Roadside assistance
Saving money through auto club discounts is great, but roadside assistance is actually the most important part of an auto club membership. This is because roadside assistance is what is going to assist you if you’re stranded without help. It is very important to learn everything possible about the roadside assistance contained within auto club memberships. Here are the specifics that a good roadside assistance program should possess:
- Towing service: This can pay for the cost of the auto club membership since one towing can cost around $75.
- Tire change service: This is important because a flat tire can occur at anytime. Roadside assistance will summon help to put on your spare tire for you.
- Lockout service: Everyone locks their keys in their car at one time or another. Having a locksmith get the keys out of your car can cost around $30 to $40. Having this assistance provided by your auto club’s roadside assistance is included in your membership.
- Gas and battery service: If you run out of gas, roadside assistance includes gas to be brought to you so that you can get to the next gas station and fill up. They should also give your battery a jump if your battery dies.
All of these services should be included in roadside assistance, so make sure that they are. These services will ensure that you do not become stranded in an unfamiliar or dangerous place.
Do your research
So make sure you do your research before choosing an auto club. Make sure that you can use all of the services provided and that you’re not paying for services you can’t use. Everyone needs to have an auto club membership. Everyone just doesn’t need the same package.
Auto club offering emergency roadside assistance,travel packages and insurance in Ontario. You can participate in our petro points rewards offer.
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Friday, October 31st, 2008 at 7:55 pm and is filed under automotive. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
