As infotainment system functionality increases, minimising driver distraction and improving usability is becoming more challenging. Continental is the latest to address the issue, and has developed a curved touchpad with haptic feedback to make selecting functions easier and safer. The system also integrates handwriting recognition. OEMs such as Opel have already introduced haptic touchpads - the D-segment Insignia has them - and they're becoming more popular, especially in markets such as China that have complicated written languages. Conti's system uses a touch-sensitive surface which controls the menus in the human-machine interface (HMI). When the driver makes a selection, it is confirmed with a tactile pulse - similar to a traditional button. Eelco Spoelder, Continental's instrumentation and HMI manager, said: "We see a lot of potential in touch control. Together with active haptic feedback, the touch principle is particularly efficient."
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