Multi-touch UI reduces touchscreen interaction to simple swipes [w/video]

Touchscreens have become widespread standard features in many cars over the last few years, consolidating the modern car's many functions into one interface. But despite their advantages there's the big downside of driver distraction, something user interface designer Matthaeus Krenn believes he has solved with his UI.

Unlike most other touchscreens, Krenn's interface isn't organized into menus and small, hard-to-hit buttons, but instead makes use of multi-touch gestures, reducing the accuracy and attention needed to operate key functions. It's a smart rethink of the loss of muscle-memory operation associated with touchscreens.

The interface is launched by touching anywhere on the screen, with a two-finger swipe controlling temperature, three fingers the audio source, four for temperature while five fingers control the airflow. Spreading your fingers wider opens a second set of controls, bringing the total to eight, all without taking your eyes off the road. Check out the video on the left to see it in action.

The best news is you can download a prototype iPad version to try it for yourself. Head over to his website for more info.

By Rufus Thompson