Sound design a must for car audio

By T. Uncle

CAR designers have always, in one way or another, recognized the desirability of good ergonomics.

Even the first stuttering examples of automotive design utilized some ergonomic principles, otherwise they would have been completely impossible to drive -- although to today's motorist they probably still would be.

Of course the science of automotive ergonomics has reached impressive heights in recent times -- heights that become obvious when a modern car interior is compared to a design of say 20 years ago.

The modern designer's aim is to minimize anything that might distract the driver from the task at hand -- something difficult to do, given the increasing complexity of the control systems that are now standard in most cars.

Electronics have made the modern car more comfortable, more efficient and safer but they have also added to the number of controls the driver must contend with.

Although ergonomic design is valuable in all areas, it is probably at its most important when related to basic control functions.

If the steering wheel is placed correctly it will minimize driver fatigue while enhancing car control and a well-designed floor pedal layout, in which the foot can be quickly transferred from gas pedal to brake, is vital to proper handling in emergency situations.

The secondary controls are important too.

The location of the indicator stalk, windshield wiper controls and headlight switches all play a part in allowing man and machine to communicate efficiently and safely.

One area, however, shows that even today's enlightened car designers can get it wrong.

Take a look at the instrument panel of a modern car and you will see that an almost generic design is evolving. There are certain fixed elements that must be used in designing an efficient, easy to decipher instrument panel -- but there is one area where not everyone agrees on what is the correct design approach.

This is the humble car radio.

It is perhaps the victim of the huge technological advances that have affected the world of high fidelity sound.

As well as being better to listen to than some home sound systems, today's in-car systems also offer extra versatility through CD players, high quality tape players and sensitive FM tuners.

This versatility extends to various methods of customizing the sound quality through devices such as graphic equalizers and digital sound processor controls that mimic different acoustic environments such as recording studios, concert halls or even wide open spaces.

Of course, this ability to decide on things such as which playback medium to use, the quality of the sound, or the direction from which it comes, usually requires a multitude of extra switches and buttons.

The challenge to the car audio designer is to provide all the features while reducing the control complexity for the driver.

Unfortunately some designers in the field have no conception of what a safe driver's environment is.

They concoct fascias that with their multitudinous push buttons demand a driver's full attention.

Some of these are also so tiny that even the smallest fingertips have trouble manipulating them.

This is not clever design, but examples are still prevalent, even on some new cars.

Statistics showing how many vehicle accidents are caused by driver's being distracted as they attempt to adjust the car radio would make an interesting study -- if they were available.

It seems there are two schools of thought being experimented with by car audio manufacturers.

One is the use of very simplified controls, in which the volume knob dominates.

This is located where the driver's hand falls almost naturally and is backed up by much smaller, often recessed controls for functions such as tuning or adjusting base and treble levels.

The idea is that the common function of adjusting the volume should be made as easy as possible and should be accomplished without the driver having to focus attention off the road.

The other controls can be adjusted when the demands on driving concentration are not high.

Others are turning toward steering wheel located buttons that are easy to find and do not require the driver's hand to be removed from the wheel.

The main problem here is that while the buttons are easy to find, their push-button design means they are, for most people, less easy to operate because the operator may get confused about which button raises the volume and which one lowers it.

Some have even gone to the extent of developing a remote car radio control that can be operated in much the same manner as a TV remote control.

Exactly why and what the supposed advantages are, remain questions that are not easily answered.