We’ve mentioned an autonomous car design that places a panoramic screen on the roof; in doing so, we posed the question, “Where else in a car could you possibly put a screen?” – an inquiry to which Byton, an automotive startup, responds with “The dashboard, of course.”
Byton’s “Shared Experience Display” is essentially what it sounds like: a wide, panoramic screen that shows different content based on the people in the car and the angle of viewing. The display focuses on four main categories of information—health, communication, entertainment, and activities—allowing drivers to maintain focus and optimal driving conditions while their passengers enjoy their favorite brands of media.
As cool as the Shared Experience Display is, the screen itself isn’t nearly as impressive as the intent behind it. In order to progress the automotive industry, Byton turned their concerns toward a comfortable user experience and a seamless integration of technology into driver use. Where other companies have added plenty of bells and whistles to their vehicles, Byton has endeavored to use that technology to complement the drive.
Aspects of this complementary nature include things like health monitoring—for example, Byton’s car might push an alert to you when you’re in need of a break—and the ability to request information and updates via an Alexa-based personal assistant. Surprisingly, both of these features are also available in upcoming Toyota vehicles; however, Byton’s software suite compounds on existing models by wrapping theirs in an entertainment-flavored package.
Indeed, passenger and driver comfort and luxury are clearly high priorities for Byton. In addition to the (frankly unnecessary) huge screen in the dashboard, Byton also includes smaller screens on the backs of the front seats, allowing passengers to customize what they see without disturbing the driver. This maximizes on Byton’s notion of creating a safe internal environment for drivers while preventing passenger boredom.
This year’s CES saw some pretty impressive autonomous vehicle breakthroughs, which is why Byton’s innovation and expansion on existing principles is so remarkable. The customer experience is still the most important priority for them, and that priority shows in the design of their vehicle.
Byton’s vehicle is expected to debut in 2020.
Jack Lloyd has a BA in Creative Writing from Forest Grove's Pacific University; he spends his writing days using his degree to pursue semicolons, freelance writing and editing, oxford commas, and enough coffee to kill a bear. His infatuation with rain is matched only by his dry sense of humor.
