ABSTRACT
Over the past 25 years, the applications of ergonomics in the vehicle designs have improved user comfort, convenience, and safety substantially. Compare any 1985 model year vehicle with its 2010 model year vehicle. You will ›nd that almost every item that the driver interfaces in these vehicles has changed substantially. For example, the 1985 vehicles had radios with two rotary knobs, ›ve push-button presets, and a sliding bar display. The climate controls were mechanical cable-operated slide or rotary controls. Now, the 2010 model vehicles have radios with many more features such as AM, FM, satellite stations, CD, and a USB interface to connect a number of digital media. In some vehicles, all the radio functions can be operated by voice controls. Further, wireless connectivity is also available in many vehicles to interface cell phones and other devices. The newer climate controls have features such as precise temperature settings for the driver and the passenger, automatic climate control, controls for the rear occupants, and ability to view outside temperature. The climate controls in many 2010 model year vehicles share the center stack display with the audio and navigation system features. In many newer vehicles, the radio and climate controls can be operated by redundant steering-wheel-mounted controls that have lighted labels for night legibility and various electronic displays can be selected and set with these controls. There are at least 50 or more individual controls in front of the driver in newer vehicles (see Figure 5.6) with well-illuminated labels. The change also has led to extending feature content to many economy vehicles.
