This post is also available in: German
Consumer Electronics Show 2018
- World’s first touchscreen featuring a 3D surface selected as one of CES 2018 Best of Innovation Awards Honoree in the “In-Vehicle Audio/Video” category
- The 3D Touch Surface Display ensures greater safety and an enhanced user experience
- The innovative technology offers design freedom and individualization in the cockpit design
Las Vegas (U.S.A.), Babenhausen (Germany), January 8, 2018. The world’s first touchscreen, featuring a 3D surface, combines a unique visual appearance with a brand-new operating concept by Continental. The innovative 3D touch surface display can be operated instinctively, enhancing the user experience and increasing safety. The technology company was awarded the CES 2018 Best of Innovation Award in the “In-Vehicle Audio/Video” category, the highest awarded honor in its category, for its state of the art design and breakthrough technology.
“Our latest display solution combines three elements: design, safety and user experience. The 3D surface not only allows for exciting design, but it also ensures that drivers can operate the various functions without having to take their eyes off the road,” said Dr. Frank Rabe, head of the Instrumentation & Driver HMI business unit at Continental. “The CES Innovation Awards honor technologies for the very highest standards of design and engineering prowess, so we are absolutely delighted to have received this award.”
Technological creativity for innovative user concept
The growing demand among users for new features and digital content means that in-vehicle touchscreens are getting bigger and bigger. While conventional screens are ideal for the flexible display of digital information, their shortcomings quickly become apparent when it comes to user-friendliness and design possibilities for vehicle manufacturers. To address this, Continental developed a 3D surface for its new touchscreen. The 3D elements allow brand-specific individualization of the high-quality plastic surface and, at the same time, finger guidance that users can actually feel.
Continental’s haptic technology also means that the display can provide haptic feedback when touched, allowing drivers to operate the display instinctively without having to take their eyes off the road.
“As human–machine interfaces become ever more complex, the combination of active, haptic feedback and passive feedback from the 3D surface ensures an outstanding user experience and significantly improves operational safety,” explained Rabe.
Haptic feedback and high contrast for reliable operation
Drivers can use the touch-sensitive 3D elements on the sides of the display like sliders to set frequently used functions such as volume or temperature settings without having to navigate away from the displayed menu. In the center of the display are specific, virtual buttons allowing blind operation of a range of applications, which change depending on the current menu. To prevent the driver from triggering any functions accidentally when interacting with the 3D elements, the touch force is measured (force sensing) before a command is executed. In addition, haptic feedback tells drivers when they have reached the edge of a screen element as they pass their finger over the screen, which allows them to distinguish between different virtual buttons without having to look at the screen. Haptic feedback is provided in the form of a short and highly precise mechanical pulse that is transferred to the display surface; any mechanized movement of the display is completely invisible to the naked eye.
To optimize the contrast of the 3D Touch Surface Display, Continental has employed optically bonded, topographical elements that are up to ten millimeters high, homogeneously tinted and can be modified to fit any display size and shape.
Continental will unveil the world’s first 3D touchscreen for the first time at CES in Las Vegas. Additionally, Continental also received recognition for its CAirS and Ac2ated Sound technologies. Both were named as CES 2018 Innovation Award honorees and will also be on display. Visit Continental at CES, Tuesday, January 9 through Friday, January 12, at North Hall Booth #6106. The Continental press conference will be held at Mandalay Bay, Level 2, Ballroom A at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 8.
Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transport. In 2016, Continental generated sales of €40.5 billion and currently employs more than 233,000 people in 56 countries.
Information management in and beyond the vehicle is at the very heart of the Interior division. The product portfolio for different types of vehicles includes: instrument clusters, multifunctional and head-up displays, control units, access control and tire-information systems, radios, infotainment systems, input devices, control panels, climate control units, software, cockpits as well as services and solutions for telematics and Intelligent Transportation Systems. The Interior division employs more than 43,000 people worldwide and generated sales of €8.3 billion in 2016.
Press contact
Sebastian Fillenberg
External Communications
Interior Division
Continental
Phone: +49 6196 87-3709
sebastian.fillenberg@continental-corporation.com
This press release is available in the following languages: English, German
Links
New Press Portal for Continental
From now on, the established www.continental-presse.de URL will lead to the new Continental press portal. Press releases, pictures and videos from the Continental Media Center and access to Continental’s social media profiles are here at a glance. Intelligent search, functional print layouts for downloads and the folder function for later personal and individual downloads are among the new functionalities. Furthermore, the new press portal is easy to use on mobile devices. Just click and try it out: www.continental-presse.de
Media database:
www.continental-mediacenter.com
Press portal:
www.continental-press.com
Video portal:
http://videoportal.continental-corporation.com
