Sharp has developed a special LCD display that can be used for in-car dashboard meter panels, thanks to it’s 1500:1 contrast radio – the industry’s highest! The new 8 inch screen has a pixel count of 800 x 480, and it’s great contrast ratio offers excellent blacks even in the kind of lighting that a car dashboard has to go through.
With an LCD, the method of displaying information can be varied to provide a wide range of options, such as displaying GPS navigation maps right in the center dash! This system is already available in the new Mercedes Benz S-Class.
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
I'm actually not looking forward to this. The contrast ratio might be good but I'm worried about the reliability particularly the lifespan of the backlight. Cars last for years while I've seen LCDs go in a bit more than a year.
LCD lifespan design to last up to 60,000 hour (approximately 15 year), that is it lost contrast of 50%, so there is no issue at all.
But to give "all-in-one" tech, definitely it is cool.
and you can put in a pr0n hack or something. =/
Good piece of technology. I wonder how long does it take to make way into Proton's dashboard..?
why they made this , actually to simplfy, means to cut cost, rather than 2 or 3 saperated hardware ,hightech gadget should be not too expensive to produce today, more if it made in china with CE. for replacement i belive they still charged high in the name of HI TECH.
why motorize power steering, save material for hoses belts n power steering pump , again cut cost,
still charge more because its "inteligent power steering"
….i guess.
Not very looking forward to it. It's cool, and it's probably more useful than conventional meters, but i still like real needles on my speedo hehe.
Imagine in future, we will be able to upgrade the functionality on the dashboard by loading new software release into the car.
But not sure if the LCD panel can be reasonably lasting due to all-year-long high temp weather (60 to 70 degree in the car, parked under hot sun)
well if thing go for LCD dont go for dial look alike meter as if still in love with that retro dial with chrome all around and sometime finished with white or yellow color cased in polished aluminum or wood panel (retro) . the former is artificial isnit?.
if it LCD ,go for something that could take the advantage of being LCD so that it is more perceivable than dials, f1 display for example or graphs, or bla bla.
you bet mini gonna do this, nah itll take the mininess of it.
for car which still move on 4 tyre , this gadget is out of place,
proton good thinking , idea came from lotus dials.
Maybe we can have Picture-In-Picture (PIP) mode for watching TV.. Just kidding.. Oh gosh, I need to be sensible.. :p
The time quoted by manufacturers is for use in controlled environments. Put it through some abuse and it'll reduce significantly.
Cool idea, then we can display GPS of jammed routes, can use it to 3G with other people. Only that the cost might be higher than conventional displays. If you have a basic car, what is the use of a customizable board which does not display much
hmm… shud be introduce to us b4 its use wat .