Lutz Eckstein

The New BMW iDrive --- Applied Processes and Methods to Assure High Usability

With iDrive the BMW Group introduced in 2001 a revolutionary HMI concept, which was firstly able to cope with the constantly increasing number of functions in the automobile. It was designed to optimally support drivers in their various tasks while driving. The basic iDrive concept can be described as separating driving functions from comfort functions as well as separating displays from controls. This basic concept together with a highly mounted display ensures that controls can be reached with no need looking at them and that the central display is easy and quick to access. The trendsetting iDrive idea has been widely adopted in the automotive industry. The following article outlines the iterative design and evaluation process that led to the new generation iDrive introduced in 2008 with the new BMW 7 Series. The basic challenge was to come up with an evolution of the iDrive concept by improving it without loosing the revolutionary approach to automotive HMI design.

Ressourcenschonende Anzeigengestaltung für antizipatives Fahren

Verkehrsunfalle entstehen heute unter anderem, weil der Fahrer immer haufiger Informations- und Kommunikationssysteme wahrend der Fahrt nutzt, die oftmals schlecht oder gar nicht in das Anzeige- und Bedienkonzept des Fahrzeugs integriert sind: eine der Verkehrssituation unangemessene Ressourcenverteilung, die BMW mit dem iSense-Konzept adressieren mochte. Mit iSense erforscht die BMW Group systemubergeordnete Anzeigen fur Fahrerassistenzsysteme, mit dem Ziel, eine ressourcenschonende Situationsuberwachung zu ermoglichen und das Situationsbewusstsein des Fahrers zu verbessern. Das neue Anzeigekonzept wurde expe- rimentell im Fahrsimulator getestet und erwies sich als vielversprechend.

Resource-saving information design for anticipative driving

The use of information and communication systems by the driver that, if at all, often are poorly integrated into the vehicle interface, has become an important factor in traffic accident causation. A case of inappropriate resource allocation, that BMW would like to address with the iSense concept approach. With iSense, the BMW Group is exploring system superordinate information display for Driver Assistance Systems (DAS), aiming for resource-saving situation monitoring and enhancement of driver situation awareness. The new approach was experimentally tested in a driving simulator and proved to have promising potential.