Abstract: Systems and methods for selecting a control mode to launch an application in a vehicle are described. For one embodiment, a system for selecting control modes for launching applications in a vehicle with a dashboard screen can include a computing device embedded in the vehicle, the computing device connected to the dashboard screen and a control display; and an operating system installed on the computing device, the operating system running a multi-display controller and one or more applications. The multi-display controller is to receive a request from the control display for launching an application, determine a control mode used to launch the application based on an integration level indicator of the application, and launch the application in the determined control mode. A metabar and a global widget can be created on top of the dashboard screen. The metabar is permanently displayed across the dashboard screen, and can contain environmental and driving-related information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using multiple control displays to control displaying applications on a dashboard screen in a vehicle are described. The applications can be non-driving-critical applications running in an operating system installed on a computing device embedded in the vehicle. The computing device is connected to the dashboard screen, a first control display and a second control display. A controlling application in the operating system can populate the first control display and the second control display with different menus, and display one or more of the non-driving-critical applications in a single display area or multiple display areas depending on user inputs from the first control display and the second control display. In an embodiment, the first control display is positioned within a driving wheel of the vehicle and the second control display is positioned between two front seats in the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for selecting a control mode to launch an application in a vehicle are described. For one embodiment, a system for selecting control modes for launching applications in a vehicle with a dashboard screen can include a computing device embedded in the vehicle, the computing device connected to the dashboard screen and a control display; and an operating system installed on the computing device, the operating system running a multi-display controller and one or more applications. The multi-display controller is to receive a request from the control display for launching an application, determine a control mode used to launch the application based on an integration level indicator of the application, and launch the application in the determined control mode. A metabar and a global widget can be created on top of the dashboard screen. The metabar is permanently displayed across the dashboard screen, and can contain environmental and driving-related information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using multiple control displays to control displaying applications on a dashboard screen in a vehicle are described. The applications can be non-driving-critical applications running in an operating system installed on a computing device embedded in the vehicle. The computing device is connected to the dashboard screen, a first control display and a second control display. A controlling application in the operating system can populate the first control display and the second control display with different menus, and display one or more of the non-driving-critical applications in a single display area or multiple display areas depending on user inputs from the first control display and the second control display. In an embodiment, the first control display is positioned within a driving wheel of the vehicle and the second control display is positioned between two front seats in the vehicle.