Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a loudspeaker disposed within a passenger compartment of the vehicle approximately between an occupant's seat of the vehicle and a space of interest disposed outside of the vehicle. A camera is positioned to capture images of a face of an occupant of the vehicle. A processing device receives the images captured by the camera, and determines from the images that the occupant is not looking at the space of interest disposed outside of the passenger compartment. In response to the determining that the driver is not looking at the space of interest disposed outside of the passenger compartment, the processing device causes a sound to be emitted from the loudspeaker.

Abstract: A method of validating a design for a graphical user interface of a motor vehicle includes creating a tentative design, and/or a few drafts or prototype for the graphical user interface. A blurred version of the tentative graphical user interface design is produced. The blurred version of the tentative graphical user interface design is tested for readability and whether the overall GUI design is suited to be perceived at a glance. If it is determined that the blurred version of the tentative graphical user interface design is not readable or understandable, then the graphical user interface is redesigned and the producing and testing steps are repeated for the redesigned graphical user interface. After the blurred graphical user interface design has been determined to be readable, then a higher fidelity graphical user interface is made.

Abstract: A method of validating a design for a graphical user interface of a motor vehicle includes creating a tentative design, and/or a few drafts or prototype for the graphical user interface. A blurred version of the tentative graphical user interface design is produced. The blurred version of the tentative graphical user interface design is tested for readability and whether the overall GUI design is suited to be perceived at a glance. If it is determined that the blurred version of the tentative graphical user interface design is not readable or understandable, then the graphical user interface is redesigned and the producing and testing steps are repeated for the redesigned graphical user interface. After the blurred graphical user interface design has been determined to be readable, then a higher fidelity graphical user interface is made.

Abstract: A docking system is for docking an electronic device in a motor vehicle. The docking system includes a cradle having a pivotable arm with an internal channel carrying first electrical conductors electrically connected to the electronic device. The cradle securely retains the electronic device. A dock housing includes a recess receiving the arm of the cradle such that the first electrical conductors may be electrically connected to second electrical conductors in the motor vehicle. A latch releasably latches the arm of the cradle within the recess of the dock housing.

Abstract: A docking system is for docking an electronic device in a motor vehicle. The docking system includes a cradle having a pivotable arm with an internal channel carrying first electrical conductors electrically connected to the electronic device. The cradle securely retains the electronic device. A dock housing includes a recess receiving the arm of the cradle such that the first electrical conductors may be electrically connected to second electrical conductors in the motor vehicle. A latch releasably latches the arm of the cradle within the recess of the dock housing.

Abstract: A motor vehicle infotainment system includes a user interface having a loudspeaker. The user interface receives a request from a driver to access a social media web site. An electronic processor accesses postings on the social media web site, and discerns first ones of the postings having primarily graphic aspects from second ones of the postings not having primarily graphic aspects. Only the ones of the postings not having primarily graphic aspects are presented to the driver via the loudspeaker.

Abstract: The inventive EAL may generally enhance a driver's spatial awareness by providing the driver with intuitive/familiar audible warnings with directionality which can be enhanced with visual warnings as well as other technologies such as ANC and Zoned audio. Thus, the driver can understand the meaning of the warning and where it is coming from so he can react to it faster. In a specific embodiment, a motor vehicle includes a plurality of outside microphones mounted in association with an outer surface of the vehicle. A plurality of loudspeakers are disposed within the passenger compartment of the vehicle. A processing device identifies a sound of interest in microphone signals received from the outside microphones. It is determined from the microphone signals a direction in which the sound of interest is traveling. This may also be done with sensors, GPS, V2X, etc.

Abstract: A head up display cluster arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a dashboard disposed within a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. The dashboard includes an instrument cluster surface disposed above a steering column of the motor vehicle. An image source is disposed on, or adjacent to, the dashboard. The image source emits an illuminated image. A mirror is positioned to reflect the emitted illuminated image onto the cluster surface.

Abstract: A display screen arrangement is for use in a motor vehicle and includes an electronic display screen. A pair of optical elements are slidably mounted over the display screen and are movable in opposite lateral directions. An actuator is coupled to the optical elements and moves the optical elements in the opposite lateral directions. A processor is communicatively coupled to the actuator and causes the actuator to move the optical elements to positions dependent upon an image being presented on the display screen.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a camera directed generally toward a driver seat of the vehicle. The camera captures images within a passenger compartment of the vehicle. A text recognition module is communicatively coupled to the camera and recognizes text characters in the captured images. An electronic processor is communicatively coupled to the text recognition module and interprets the recognized text characters as text information, categorizes the text information, and enters the text information into an application within the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of validating a design for a graphical user interface of a motor vehicle includes creating a tentative design, and/or a few drafts or prototype for the graphical user interface. A blurred version of the tentative graphical user interface design is produced. The blurred version of the tentative graphical user interface design is tested for readability and whether the overall GUI design is suited to be perceived at a glance. If it is determined that the blurred version of the tentative graphical user interface design is not readable or understandable, then the graphical user interface is redesigned and the producing and testing steps are repeated for the redesigned graphical user interface. After the blurred graphical user interface design has been determined to be readable, then a higher fidelity graphical user interface is made.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a steering wheel having a capacitive touch sensor positioned and sized to be touched by a driver's thumb while the remaining fingers on the driver's hand are wrapped around an outer edge of the steering wheel. An electronic processor is communicatively coupled to the display screen and the capacitive touch sensor. The electronic processor zooms in on an image presented on the display screen in response to the driver's thumb being dragged in a first direction across the capacitive touch sensor. The electronic processor zooms out on an image presented on the display screen in response to the driver's thumb being dragged in a second direction across the capacitive touch sensor. The second direction is substantially opposite to the first direction.