Today it is impossible to imagine our life without cars. It is not only a convenient means of transportation, but also an indicator of status, a collectible. In less than a century, cars have come a long way of transformation, from technical equipment to design.
The history of the car dates back to the last century. The machine, powered by an internal combustion engine, appeared thanks to two German inventors – Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz. The predecessor was machines powered by a steam engine. Since then, the service originates: the development of interface design. For the driver, the dashboard plays an important role, and when choosing a car, special attention is paid to it, because this dashboard contains the controls for the machine. KLONA industrial design studio will develop 3D model dashboard for any car.
Creation of interfaces for the car. Centenary history
The dashboard interface has evolved incredibly. And it all started with the most unpretentious iron sheet with a speedometer. In the last century, the car could not tell the driver about its condition in any way, but today the slightest changes are displayed.
- XX century, 20s
Until the 30s of the XX century, no one even heard of the concepts of “dashboard” or “car interface”. In those years, manufacturers were just beginning to move away from the forms of horse carriages, which could be traced in the design of the body. Even aerodynamic issues were not raised, not to mention the ergonomics of the driver’s seat. Of all the technical luxury for control in the 1920s, sensors were available to determine speed and distance traveled.
- XX century, 30s
By the 30s, functional glove compartments had come to life, without which it is impossible to imagine today’s dashboard. Then they were called “glove box”. In addition, the designers took inspiration from the dashboards in airplanes and dramatically increased the number of elements. All kinds of buttons raised the status of the car. That’s like the Bentley Blower.
- XX century, 70s
In the 70s, technology made a big leap, which was greatly reflected in the dashboard: buttons appeared to control the radio and air conditioning. It was in the seventies that the so-called “beard” appeared, which began in the center and went down to the gearbox. Constructors placed secondary controls on it. Manufacturers began to actively use plastic in the creation of the dashboard, which became one of the key steps in auto design. It was possible to create a dashboard of any shape from plastic, everything depended only on the designer’s imagination.
- XX century, 80-90s
In the second half of the 1980s, mechanical panels were replaced by digital ones. The first cars with innovative dashboards were the Chevrolet Corvette (C4) and the Subaru XT 4WD 1800 Turbo.
Alfa Romeo 90 QO
Aston martin lagonda
Audi Quattro 20V, Coupe GT
- XXI Century
21st century cars have grown a lot smarter. The once bulky computers have been reincarnated as miniature touchpads with all the controls. Mechanical measuring instruments have finally sunk into oblivion under the pressure of technical progress.
Car interface design: features and trends
The vehicle interface is a means for interaction between the vehicle and its owner. Naturally, a lot depends on the convenience of the interface. Discussions are currently underway about whether the car should constantly inform the driver about the slightest changes in operation, because in the first cars there was only one sensor, and this did not greatly affect driving safety.
Jeff Teehan, director of product design at Facebook, thinks that interface design has gotten worse due to the abundance of all sorts of features. For example, the Porsche 918 Spyder dashboard is responsible for over 800 functions, but drivers rarely use them all.
Designers at UsTwo note that touchscreens still retain the disadvantages of levers and buttons. Of course, with the help of technology, the shortcomings could be easily eliminated, but this goes against the expectations of users who are looking for familiar elements. In this regard, the designers have created virtual analogs of buttons.
Auto interior industrial design: a look into the future
Constructors and designers are continuously studying the user experience, simplifying the way to drive a car, making it safer, easier and more intuitive to drive. Despite the habits that have been formed over the years, users are open to technological progress and dashboard transformation. The creation of a car dashboard is a process that requires constant looking back not only on technology, but also on feedback. Waymo, a subsidiary of Google, has patented an unusual design for an unmanned vehicle console. There is no dashboard and steering wheel on it – only the “Go” button.
The main trends in the design of the program interface
- Augmented reality. Today it is one of the most effective implemented concepts. A study of AR systems that are placed on the windshield showed that AR has a positive effect on safety and reduces the risk of getting into accidents.
- Voice interfaces. Basically, they serve as intermediaries in the use of AR systems. Research suggests that nearly 50% of all vehicles will include voice interfaces by 2019.
- Sensors and sensors. The introduction of a high-tech touchscreen display from the Korean startup VTouch is expected. The interactive whiteboard will allow you to control using gestures. In addition, the technology can track eye and finger movements using 3D cameras. Today, there are also solutions that allow you to open the car using fingerprints.
Tesla
Modern cars are united by minimalistic design. Everything that used to be buttons and levers is transformed into touch-sensitive icons on the dashboard. In the next 15-20 years, another revolution in the car market awaits us. One of the most anticipated innovations is unmanned vehicles with artificial intelligence.
Industrial design of cars does not stand still and what seems fantastic today may become a familiar reality in 15-20 years. Contact the KLONA industrial design studio and we we will do 3D modeling interface for cars. Let’s be ahead of the time together!
