Cars today have begun considering the choices and preferences of passengers, providing them with controls that were initially limited to the driver. These controls allow passengers to regulate their personal spaces within the car, such as the temperature, volume, personal screens, power plugs and a multitude of other devices and interfaces, including controlling the very seat itself.
A particular system interface I always appreciate, and when in certain cars desire, is the seat control console. Every car offers a means to reposition the seat. However, the earlier models only give the front two seats this privilege, doing so using a lever mechanism. Later, the rear passenger seats too were adjustable, using the same mechanism.
The lever is a very traditional method, which helps move objects; in this case moving the entire seat forward or backwards, and straightening or reclining the backrest. This mechanism limits options, offering only three positions of each movement. Not only are the seat-positions predefined, transitioning between them is not the most comfortable experience as seats jerk to a halt. Above all, the very interface itself is placed under the seat, somewhere.
The recent interface has eradicated the mechanical mechanism, computerizing it. The lever is replaced with buttons, which take the shape of the actual seat. Furthermore, each button controls the section of the seat that it is shaped after; no longer do you have to move the entire backrest, rather, you can choose which portion of the backrest it is you would like to adjust.
The image below of the seat control console reveals the several buttons that compose it. In spite of the multiple buttons, it is apparent what the console controls as well as each of the buttons within it: the headrest, backrest, lumbar, seat pan, seat height, and seat distance.
The console offers various choices, allowing the user to adjust precise areas of the seat to achieve maximum comfort. Furthermore, the design of the interface and its buttons makes its functionality natural, successfully communicating with users, including first-time users. It is impossible to manipulate the buttons hoping to raise the volume or lower the temperature!
Another highly successful trait of this interface is its location. Unlike the old lever mechanism, this console is not lost under the seat, but is installed into the door. The console is not only immediately noticed by the seated passenger, but is positioned to also allow comfortable accessibility, while accommodating for varying elbow axes. The location of the console is important, inviting the users want to interact with it, and at times, even when the user does not necessarily need it.
The more sophisticated of these interfaces even allow the preferred position to be stored in one of the four memory buttons on the console. This option is very convenient and makes the interface all the more appealing. It is my personal favorite function, as I prefer my car seat upright, while other users of that car prefer the seat reclined. The memory function is controlled by four buttons adjacent to the seat control buttons, and are clearly marked M1 through M4. Users recognize that M implies ‘memory’ as we have learned from the calculator.
Another feature that makes the interface all the more successful is the backlighting. This allows the console to be viewed at night as easily as it is during the day.
Despite reposition the seat, the car also allows users to adjust the firmness of the seat itself; making the seat softer or firmer according to preference. However, this option is on a console of its own located on the side of the actual seat. To enhance the design of the interfaces, I would have the two consoles merged to one, since the functions do compliment one another.
Another revision I would suggest is to improve the interface is to give the driver ultimate control. Currently, each passenger is able to adjust their seat to their preferences, but the driver should be able to modify the positioning of other seats from his/her own personal console. All this would require is a panel of buttons that represent each seat in the car, which the driver could push before adjusting the desired seat from that one interface that controls his/her seat too.
Furthermore, once the driver has manipulated a passenger’s seat, the control should automatically return to its default setting - controlling the driver’s seat again. Doing so will avoid any user aggravation, which may be caused when the driver intends to manipulate his own seat without realizing that the setting had been altered to control other seats in the car.
Nevertheless, this interface and its functionality is very appealing to users, and only makes their ride all the more comfortable.
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