Technology company Continental has been presented with a Gold German Design Award for its ShyTech display, which was recognized for excellent product design in the Automotive Parts and Accessories category.
“Receiving the highest honor of the German Design Award for our ShyTech display is a great recognition for our team. It confirms our approach to purist vehicle design and outstanding user experience,” said Philipp von Hirschheydt, head of user experience at Continental. “Our solution seamlessly integrates high-resolution displays into a two-dimensionally shaped surface in real wood or leather look, where the displays disappear completely and content only appears when in use.”
The displays combine design and function with display and control surfaces only appearing if they are relevant to the driver. If required, the display can take the entire width of the instrument panel, but still prevents sensory overload for the vehicle occupants.
This is made possible thanks to a semi-transparent surface which ensures that the screen can be integrated into the surrounding surface – both visually and haptically. Even if the instrument panel appears to be made of one piece, navigation or other communication information as well as the menu of the touchscreen are always available. At the same time, the technology solves the design requirement of not letting inactive screens appear as blank black areas. Depending on the configuration, the display surface appears either as a wooden panel or as a leather-covered surface, replicating not only the look but also the feel of the material.
“With the ShyTech display, Continental is responding as an innovator to the sensory overload in our everyday lives – a hot topic that is highly relevant in terms of user experience, especially in view of the fact that autonomous vehicles will be the third living space in the future,” concluded the jury for awarding the accolade.
