Car UI Design

The article "Can this car save Ford?" from Fortune magazine's site, describes Ford's ongoing efforts to reinvent itself; and survive.

Most interesting for me was this snippet from a design meeting:

The question is, Should Ford offer drivers buttons on the steering wheel or racing-style paddles behind the steering-wheel spokes? It is a small detail - each component costs about $25 - yet it produces spirited discussion.

Mulally wants to know how the gear changes will be signaled to the driver. Mark Fields, who runs Ford's car business in the Americas, worries about durability and warranty costs. More fundamentally, he questions whether drivers even want to shift gears themselves. "I'm concerned we're going in the wrong direction," he says. Jim Farley, newly recruited from Toyota (TM) to oversee global sales and marketing, is thinking about how the action will feel: "If the paddle shifter is well done, it could be a big advantage for us."

Having spent many meetings teasing out the details of software design, it's telling to see that car companies do exactly the same thing. Of course they do! Yet somehow I just never thought about it.

Ford has recently identified 300 different characteristics - from the chirps on the electronic key fob to the clunk of a closing door - that define the personality of its vehicles. "There is great value for us in creating a Ford DNA," Mulally says.

Again, wow! I always thought expensive cars had a heavy sound to them (because they are heavy), but I never thought about a Ford having a distinctive sound. Do they really build a door and go "works great, but doesn't sound like a Ford!"? And how do they change that?...prerecord a sound and play it through the car's sound system to augment the actual sound??!

Create Your Story Contest

Crackle is running a Create Your Story contest.

- You know, create a video and win a contest! Sounds easy!

"Big deal!" - I hear you thinking.

Well, sure. Except if you win, then you get:

A Sony XDCAM EX™ Camcorder; a Sony VAIO® Computer; Vegas® 8 Editing Software; and; an offer to receive a development deal with Crackle Studios to develop material for Crackle distribution, including two (2) meetings with Crackle Studios executives, subject to the terms and conditions described below (the "Development Deal"). - Approximate Retail Value ("ARV"): $9,000.

At that value, I'm guessing the XDCAM is the PMW-EX1 - woot! (No, seriously, Woot! The PMW-EX1 would be worth winning.)

And of course, the meetings with Crackle Studio executives, let's not forget those. The value of those; priceless (hmmm....I wonder if they'd buy lunch?)

Except:

The Development Deal meetings may be conducted in person or via telephone, as determined by Sponsor, in its sole discretion.

"Paging Mr. Taz, Development deal on line 3!"

No, seriously. Really?! A phone call? Well, the camera would still be worth winning.

So, yeah, you have until May 31st to get an entry in. Just make sure you don't break any of the rules, particularly this one:

(b)[...] did not purchase the web cam, video camera, and/or other equipment used to create the video (the "Equipment") for purposes of entering the Contest;

Wait...You can't buy a camera to make a video to enter the contest, to win a camera? Can you rent a camera?! I really don't get that one. If anyone can explain it's significance, please let me know!