Mercedes Splitview Command Coming To 2009 S-Class [Gadgets]

You’ll soon be able to check one more option box on that 2009 Mercedes S-Class you planned on ordering next year.

Mercedes-Benz has announced it will provide customers with a new display system that they’ve dubbed Splitview Command –effectively transforming the front navigation display into a multimedia center for the front seat passenger.

Developed by Bosch, the 8-inch TFT-LCD display will display two separate images simultaneously by placing the pixels adjacent to one another using a filtering mask to separate them for viewing. The result is a display that not only allows the driver to see the COMAND systems navigation, but also allows the passenger to watch their favorite clip of Ray on CNBC.

The press release from Mercedes:

In future Mercedes-Benz is equipping its luxury class models as the first premium brand with a display screen that allows the driver and front passenger to view two different programmes at the same time. While the driver is checking the navigation instructions, the front passenger can sit back and watch a film on the very same display. This is made possible by new SPLITVIEW technology which the Stuttgart premium brand is introducing in the S-Class for the first time.

Mercedes-Benz has integrated the new SPLITVIEW technology developed by Mercedes-Benz and Bosch into the innovative control and display system COMAND, which is centrally located in the dashboard console. Its generously dimensioned, 8-inch (approx. 20 mm) monitor shows a backlighted active matrix colour display (TFT-LCD). This shows two different images simultaneously by placing pixels adjacent to each other. A filter masking the display divides this mixed image in such a way that depending on the seating position, only the pixels making up one or the other image can be seen. As a result, the driver and front passenger can view different programmes on the same screen at the same time.

The driver still has access to all the information from the control and display system COMAND on the display, while the front passenger uses the remote control to choose his own entertainment programme with DVDs, TV channels or music videos. To avoid distracting the driver with his entertainment programme, he also has the option of enjoying the programme via headphones. As before, the driver is able to view all the information provided by the COMAND system on the display.

Mercedes-Benz is introducing the new SPLITVIEW technology in the S-Class for the first time in summer 2009.

[via eMercedesBenz]