Abstract: A method is provided for configuring a vehicle interface in response to a monitored vehicle condition. For example, the vehicle condition sensor may be a precipitation sensor, in which case the set of vehicle subsystem touch-sensitive soft buttons correspond to windshield wiper controls when the precipitation sensor indicates a non-zero precipitation level. Alternately, the vehicle condition sensor may be a GPS sensor, in which case the set of vehicle subsystem touch-sensitive soft buttons correspond to activation controls an external system such as a garage door controller, a home lighting controller, or a home security controller. Alternately, the vehicle condition sensor may sense driving style, for example by monitoring vehicle speed, acceleration, lateral force or the output of a performance mode selector, in which case the set of vehicle subsystem information graphics correspond to essential vehicle operating controls.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a steering wheel, a first touchpad integrated into the steering wheel adapted to input commands, a second touchpad integrated into the steering wheel and spatially separated from the first touchpad adapted to input commands, and a coordination module adapted to generate a command to operate a function of the motor vehicle as a function of a touch motion over the first touchpad and a simultaneously-occurring touch motion over the second touchpad.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle having a steering wheel, the motor vehicle including a first display, integrated into the steering wheel, for the variable representation of information; a first touchscreen, situated over the first display, for the input of commands; a second display, integrated into the steering wheel and separated spatially from the first display, for the variable representation of information; and a second touchscreen, situated over the second display, for the input of commands.