Continental received two German Design Awards for new in-car controls and displays that improve user experience. The first winning innovation is the Curved Plastic Lens Display. This display solution shows the next evolutionary step for large automotive user interfaces. Industrialization of the production of 3D formed plastic lenses with complex decoration prints is an economic alternative to traditional real glass solutions. Smaller curvature radii in combination with topographic surface elements significantly improve the user experience of multi-display systems in the vehicle, make it easier to display larger amounts of data more effectively and offer a new level of design flexibility.
The jury stated that curved cockpit displays with integrated topographic elements is impressive, expanding the creative scope of designers and creating a completely new driving experience.
The second product to win is the Morphing Controls functional surfaces. With Morphing Controls, clean surfaces become intuitive user interfaces. The buttons stay invisible until demanded. Thanks to proximity sensors and actuators, they take shape only when needed. The smart surface material can be reversibly stretched and allows precise translucence for button symbols and display content. The topographic surface in combination with force sensing and haptic feedback significantly improve the blind operability in the vehicle.
The jury stated that morphing controls only become visible when the user needs them. Otherwise the surface remains refreshingly clear and undistracting—an impressive technology that reinterprets the classic car cockpit in a revolutionary way.
