The Auto Writer

New split screen technology is heading to a Mercedes S-Class near you. Developed with Bosch, the new technology will allow driver and front seat passenger to view different programs from the same screen.

Cutting edge technology and cars is nothing new with most new vehicles sporting navigation systems, MP3 ports, Bluetooth connectivity and so much more. No need to pull over to your local Starbucks for an internet connection when your drive will provide that for you.

Now, Mercedes-Benz is getting ready to take display screen technology to a new level by introducing the first split view screen on the market. Scheduled to be released in 2009 in the S-Class, the SPLITVIEW technology will allow driver and passenger to view the same screen but see different pictures. In other words, while the front seat passenger is watching her favorite show you can view your navigation route.

Developed with German automotive parts giant, Bosch, SPLITVIEW works with the innovative control and display system COMAND, which is centrally located in the dashboard console. Its dimensioned, 8-inch (approx. 20 mm) monitor shows a backlighted active matrix colour display (TFT-LCD).

Two different images can simultaneously play thanks to placing pixels adjacent to each other. A filter masking the display divides this mixed image in such a way that depending on the seating position, only the pixels making up one or the other image can be seen. As a result, the driver and front passenger can view different programs on the same screen at the same time.

As for the driver, he still has access to all the information from the control and display system COMAND on the display, while the front passenger uses the remote control to choose her own entertainment program with DVDs or choose television channels, even select music videos.

Of course, a distracted driver is a dangerous driver so Mercedes gives him the option to listen to her program via headphones. He’ll still see the information provided by the COMAND system on the display while having the opportunity to listen to her favorite program.

Mercedes says that its SPLITVIEW technology will find its way into the S-Class beginning Summer 2009.

Source: Daimler AG