In-car displays are in high demand but raise public health concerns.
"Smart" is no longer just a term used to describe mobile phones, but also car dashboards, as year after year they evolve into small computers built into 4 wheels.
However, two facts are clear: Consumers desperately want them and automakers are investing a lot of money to make them even smarter.
The big question that arises, however, is whether they are really a good idea.
Automakers answer categorically "yes", claiming that large touchscreens on car dashboards behave like smartphones, making car models that incorporate them more attractive to consumers.
At the same time, they insist that the new screens make driving less dangerous, due to clear voice operation and easy access to applications, unlike mobile phones.
However, increasingly elaborate displays have sparked much debate about whether this technology is a suitable "co-driver" in a car.
“I think (the screens) raise serious questions about public safety,” said Joe Simician, a former California U.S. congressman who introduced the state’s laws on cell phone use while driving.
"From a legislative point of view, this issue is and will continue to concern legislators for many more years," he added.
"It's not possible for a driver to be looking at a screen and the road at the same time," Professor David Strayer of the University of Utah, who has written various reports on the issue, told Reuters news agency.
The screens "provide interactive features to drivers, which distract attention from the road for longer than is safe," he argued.
Based on the findings of his study, the process of reading a text message - a function supported by many screens - takes at least 4 seconds, longer than is considered safe.
However, for automakers and their customers, these displays are seen as an irresistible feature in car models.
These smart displays allow driversto sync their mobile phones with them, giving them access to social networking services. They can also upload photos or view text messages displayed on the screen.
"If we don't provide the consumer with something that is considered useful, then they will use their mobile phone and we all know that this is one of the biggest safety risks while driving," said Mark Danke, a spokesman for the Audi carmaker.
According to a recent study by market research firm J.D. Power, about 15% of consumers would rule out buying a car if it didn't include the latest technology, compared to 4% a year earlier.
Source: skai.gr
