The future was digital in 1983
05/17/2013
30 years ago, the car world was moving towards digital dashboard displays. Anyone who did not have digits instead of pointers and LCD instead of analog instruments in their range was practically obsolete.
At the 1983 Geneva Motor Show, the refiner bb-auto from Frankfurt presented a further simplified and therefore more user-friendly version of its Dinfos display instruments (Dinfos = digital information system). However, in terms of its complexity and extensive range of buttons, it was almost more reminiscent of the Starship Enterprise than a blindly operated vehicle dashboard.
VDO, who wanted to revolutionize the dashboard with electronics, went more in the direction of simplification. "Tailor-made for the driver" was the keyword for the "trend-setting study".
According to VDO: "The main feature is the movable central liquid crystal display. This can be adjusted precisely to the viewing direction of each driver. This means that both the height and surface inclination of the instrumentation can be adapted to any field of vision. There are also two display panels for the integrated on-board computer and the central information system on the satellites, which can also be moved to the side. They provide the driver with important additional information, but they do not have to be constantly in view. Because here, too, the top priority is to protect the driver from sensory overload!"
Well, a lot has happened since then and only a few vehicles, such as the Audi Quattro, have actually used digital displays on a large scale. Today, instruments are increasingly being replaced by LCD displays, but these mostly mimic the old analog technology.
