Benefits of BMW iDrive System

BENEFITS :

SIMPLE LAYOUT

As aforementioned, the layout of the iDrive System consists of a mapping routine of eight sub-trees. These eight main points are the starting point for all systems on the iDrive System.  By allowing only eight options, the user can quickly make a decision as to where he/she wants to go.   The menu choices are intuitive, keeping mental processing to a minimum which allows more concentration to be allocated towards vehicle control.

If the user wishes to change the temperature, they could easily understand from the given choices to select “Climate Control”.  To perform this action, the user has three options.  First, they could use the  conventional controls on the  dash;  second, by controls on  the  steering wheel; or  thirdly, by utilizing the iDrive.   To  activate the iDrive, the user moves the controller in the west direction, which automatically selects the climate menu.   Once inside the climate menu, the user rotates the controller until the temperature line is highlighted.   To select temperature, the user depresses the controller and then makes the temperature change as necessary.

For virtually all the selection options, the user never has to go more then three or four menus deep. The menu layout for the first generation and second generation is almost identical in the 7-Series models.  The 5-Series layout has only four initial menu options, thus reducing the mental load even more.

On  the  “Second  Generation”  systems,  a  menu  button  has  been  added  just  below  the  main controller.  The lack of a “Menu” button on the “First Generation” system made navigation back to the  root  menu  non-intuitive.    Implementation  of  this  button  on  the  newer  systems  has  greatly improved  usability  by  giving  users  a  simple  way  “home”.    This  has  provided  for  faster  menu traversal speed.

                               

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CONTROLLER  FEEDBACK

An  important aspect with any system  is user feedback.   In both the first and  second generation iDrive Systems, user feedback is ever present.   The iDrive System controller is a “force-feedback” device  controller.    When  selecting  the  initial  menu,  the  controller  implements  multidimensional movement with elastic resistance and returns to neutral when released.   When the user pushes the controller, a detent notifies the user that the motion has occurred.    In the second layer of menus, the controller varies the amount of rotation based on the display menu, and “kicks back” when the end of menus are reached.  This turns the control device from a multidimensional linear switch to a rotary switch.

The  switch  combines  all three  types  of  control  types.    In  the  swiveling  direction,  the  controller mimics a joystick.  With linear movement, the switch imitates a push button.  Finally, with respect to turning  movement,  the  switch  is  in  the  fashion  of  a  rotary  knob.    All  three  switch  types  are continently combined into one easy-to-use device.  Engineers at BMW have combined just the right amount of pressure needed along with good user feedback to design an easy-to-use controller.  The control system has also eliminated virtually all dead space and backlash to aid in accuracy and speed of selection.

The reach envelope is not violated with the iDrive System.   The furthest your arm would have to move while driving would be only a few inches.   This is well within the anthropometric standards for the majority of human drivers.

                                       

 VISUAL  DISPLAY

The  key  component  to  the  iDrive  System  is  the  visual  display.    Located  in  the  center  of  the dashboard, is an 8.8 inch LCD screen (256 colors, 640 x 240 pixels).   The short but wide screen provides easy viewing of all information. Both the generations of system  provide a well lit, easy-to- read  screen.    Also,  both  systems  provide  for  multiple  different  display  languages  to  allow  for  a diverse  customer  base.    The  screen  neatly  organizes  the  information  for  speed  and  accuracy  in identification.

Labels  and  symbols  are  associated  to  give  the  user  easy  understanding  of  action  from  selection. Because the labels are on the display screen and not on the controller, the labels are never covered while  in  use.    Localization  of  selection  is  based  on  vertical  columns,  to  increase  accuracy  and decrease selection time.

Selections from the visual display are moved with respect to the population stereotype for increasing and  decreasing.    An  example  would  be:    If  a  menu  has  two  columns,  rotating  the  controller clockwise would move selections up on the left column, and down on the right column.

At the root level, this system does a very good job with minimizing information, especially in the 5- Series.  There is good C-D mapping.  Items that are related are under the same menus.  The Stimuli- Response  mappings  are  properly  grouped.     The  menu  navigation  does  adhere  to  population stereotypes.   Finally, positive indication is given to the user on both the controller and the visual display after a selection has been made.

 AUDIO INPUT

The iDrive System also implements an audio input device.  With drivers asked to perform more and more actions while driving, an audio input device aids in reducing the “eyes off     road” time.   In the “First  Generation”,  the  voice  recognition  system  was  pioneered.    Though  this  system  was  not entirely effective, the “Second Generation” audio system has a vocabulary of approximately 3000 short commands available to the user for controlling the system.  A simple command could be “Call Jim” and the iDrive System would place a call to Jim’s phone.

Data Courtesy : M.M.V.ABHINAVA TEJASVI (Mechanical, JB Group of Institutioons)