LED Dashboards

I was just wondering….

I really like the LED speedometers and other LED gauges.  Knowing that you
are exactually going 73km/h is great.  Is it possible to get LED gauges as
an option on most cars (if you want to pay for it) or it is dependant on
whether the car maker offers it with that particular car/model?

Cheers!

        Alex

24 Responses to “LED Dashboards”

  1. admin says:

    Alex Schwarzer (Aschw…@corb.rehab.ualberta.ca) wrote:

    : I really like the LED speedometers and other LED gauges.  Knowing that you

    You mean LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) not LED (Light Emitting Diode)

    : are exactly going 73km/h is great.  Is it possible to get LED gauges as
          ^^^^^^^
    A digital readout isn’t any more accurate than the analog pickup
    unit or in the case of your speedometer, your constantly wearing tires
    on your rig.  In fact, your vehicle may not have the correct diameter
    tires to go with your vehicle’s gearing anyway.  The only way to know
    for sure is to be calibrated somehow, and who goes to that bother anyway?  
    Just because the tires came stock on the car doesn’t mean that they are
    the ones that will be ‘accurately’ reading on your speedometer.  Just
    pick up a vehicle spec sheet and see how many different tires can come
    stock on it.  Heck, even the same size in different brands have different
    actual diameters.

    My vehicle speed is analog (it would be a pretty annoying ride if it
    were digital).  I like an analog speedometer…

    Wes Fujii
    ________________________________________________________________
          ___   ___ ___
         /  /  /  //  /
        /  /__/  //  /    A real motor is an Oldsmobile Rocket 455
       /  HURST //  /     "This is NOT the new generation of Olds"
      /  /  /  //  /_______
     /__/  /__//  //  ___  \
              /  //  /   \  \       Wes "BANZAI" Fujii
             /  //  /OLDS/  /          Boise, Idaho
            /  / \  \___/  /      w…@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com
           /__/   \_______/

  2. admin says:

    In <CpLoo2….@boi.hp.com> w…@boi.hp.com (Wes Fujii) writes:

    >Alex Schwarzer (Aschw…@corb.rehab.ualberta.ca) wrote:
    >: I really like the LED speedometers and other LED gauges.  Knowing that you
    >You mean LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) not LED (Light Emitting Diode)

     I’m fairly certain he meant LED.  I’ve never seen a vehicle yet with an LCD
    display, although I’m sure they make them.

     LCD’s probably would not work reliably in a hot car, and they don’t display
    well during the daylight.  The nice thing about LCD is their low power
    consumption, but that isn’t normally a problem in a car with it’s huge
    batter and alternator.


    Steve Sheldon           [These are my own opinions]
    Iowa State University   ICSS Resource Facility by day
    shel…@iastate.edu     ProMap, Inc. by night

  3. admin says:

    Steven R. Sheldon (shel…@iastate.edu) wrote:
    : In <CpLoo2….@boi.hp.com> w…@boi.hp.com (Wes Fujii) writes:

    : >Alex Schwarzer (Aschw…@corb.rehab.ualberta.ca) wrote:
    : >: I really like the LED speedometers and other LED gauges.  Knowing that you

    : >You mean LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) not LED (Light Emitting Diode)

    :  I’m fairly certain he meant LED.  I’ve never seen a vehicle yet with an LCD
    : display, although I’m sure they make them.

    :  LCD’s probably would not work reliably in a hot car, and they don’t display
    : well during the daylight.  The nice thing about LCD is their low power
    : consumption, but that isn’t normally a problem in a car with it’s huge
    : batter and alternator.

    : —
    : Steve Sheldon           [These are my own opinions]
    : Iowa State University   ICSS Resource Facility by day
    : shel…@iastate.edu     ProMap, Inc. by night

    Actually, they’re vacuum fluorescent.  LCD’s require ambient light
    to work.

  4. admin says:

    In article <sheldon.768600…@mystic.agron.iastate.edu>, shel…@iastate.edu (Steven R. Sheldon) writes:
    |> In <CpLoo2….@boi.hp.com> w…@boi.hp.com (Wes Fujii) writes:
    |> >Alex Schwarzer (Aschw…@corb.rehab.ualberta.ca) wrote:
    |> >: I really like the LED speedometers and other LED gauges.  Knowing that you
    |> >You mean LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) not LED (Light Emitting Diode)
    |>  I’m fairly certain he meant LED.  I’ve never seen a vehicle yet with an LCD
    |> display, although I’m sure they make them.
    |>  LCD’s probably would not work reliably in a hot car, and they don’t display
    |> well during the daylight.  The nice thing about LCD is their low power
    |> consumption, but that isn’t normally a problem in a car with it’s huge
    |> batter and alternator.
    |> Steve Sheldon           [These are my own opinions]
    |> Iowa State University   ICSS Resource Facility by day
    |> shel…@iastate.edu     ProMap, Inc. by night

    My Radio has a LCD, it works just fine, easy to read in sun light, so is
    my watch, which is LCD.

       /                 _____                 PH(208)396-3146 FAX(208)396-5136
      / /  _   _  /)    (_/_ _     _  /) _  _  e-mail: ka…@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com
    _/ \ _(_|_/(_//_   __/ _(/_/)_(/_//_(/_/(_       : ka…@hpdmlct.boi.hp.com
        \________________________(/____________Hewlett-Packard Co. Boise,Id.USA

  5. admin says:

    >>>>> "Steven" == Steven R Sheldon <shel…@iastate.edu> writes:

    In article <sheldon.768600…@mystic.agron.iastate.edu> shel…@iastate.edu (Steven R. Sheldon) writes:

    Steven> In <CpLoo2….@boi.hp.com> w…@boi.hp.com (Wes Fujii) writes:

    >> Alex Schwarzer (Aschw…@corb.rehab.ualberta.ca) wrote: : I really
    >> like the LED speedometers and other LED gauges.  Knowing that you
    >> You mean LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) not LED (Light Emitting
    >> Diode)

    Steven> I’m fairly certain he meant LED.  I’ve never seen a vehicle
    Steven> yet with an LCD display, although I’m sure they make them.

    Indy Cars have LCD’s.

                 Scott Streeter
                  s…@wpi.wpi.edu

  6. admin says:

    In article <2qp03j$…@emoryu1.cc.emory.edu>, lpar…@emoryu1.cc.emory.edu (Lloyd R. Parker) writes:
    |> Steven R. Sheldon (shel…@iastate.edu) wrote:
    |> : In <CpLoo2….@boi.hp.com> w…@boi.hp.com (Wes Fujii) writes:
    |>
    |> : >Alex Schwarzer (Aschw…@corb.rehab.ualberta.ca) wrote:
    |> : >: I really like the LED speedometers and other LED gauges.  Knowing that you
    |>
    |> : >You mean LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) not LED (Light Emitting Diode)
    |>
    |> :  I’m fairly certain he meant LED.  I’ve never seen a vehicle yet with an LCD
    |> : display, although I’m sure they make them.
    |>
    |> :  LCD’s probably would not work reliably in a hot car, and they don’t display
    |> : well during the daylight.  The nice thing about LCD is their low power
    |> : consumption, but that isn’t normally a problem in a car with it’s huge
    |> : batter and alternator.
    |>
    |> : —
    |> : Steve Sheldon           [These are my own opinions]
    |> : Iowa State University   ICSS Resource Facility by day
    |> : shel…@iastate.edu     ProMap, Inc. by night
    |>
    |> Actually, they’re vacuum fluorescent.  LCD’s require ambient light
    |> to work.
    |>

    Actually, some are vacuum fluorescent and some are LCDs.  You’re right
    in that LCDs don’t emit any light, but they are often backlit so that
    they, in effect, make their own ambient light and they can be viewed
    at night.

    Randy Casciola

  7. admin says:

    In article <CpLurw….@boi.hp.com>, ka…@hpdmlct.boi.hp.com (Karl Fengler) writes:
    > |> >: I really like the LED speedometers and other LED gauges.  Knowing that you
    > |> >You mean LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) not LED (Light Emitting Diode)
    > |>  I’m fairly certain he meant LED.  I’ve never seen a vehicle yet with an LCD
    > |> display, although I’m sure they make them.

    Actually, while most radio and electronic clock displays in cars are either
    LED or LCD, most of the "Tokyo by Night" electronic instrument clusters
    which were popular in the `80s are vacuum flourescent. The intensity of
    such displays easily exceeds most commercially available LED displays, while
    the sole advantage of the LED (smaller power consumption) is irrelevent
    in a car.

    Plus vacuum flourescents can be more cheaply designed and manufactured into
    fancy shapes, like the wonderful, pulsing "power curve" tachometer that
    was available on the 300ZX of one or two generations ago.

    Daryl

  8. admin says:

    In article <sheldon.768600…@mystic.agron.iastate.edu>,
    shel…@iastate.edu (Steven R. Sheldon) wrote:

    > In <CpLoo2….@boi.hp.com> w…@boi.hp.com (Wes Fujii) writes:
    > >Alex Schwarzer (Aschw…@corb.rehab.ualberta.ca) wrote:
    > >: I really like the LED speedometers and other LED gauges.  Knowing that you
    > >You mean LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) not LED (Light Emitting Diode)
    >  I’m fairly certain he meant LED.  I’ve never seen a vehicle yet with an LCD
    > display, although I’m sure they make them.

    Most of the recent vehicles I have seen with those horrid digital
    dashes do indeed have some form of backlit LCD display.  Most of
    them use a polarizer so that the digits appear transparent and
    the surrounding area black, hence the impression that they are
    LED’s…and yes, you can take the plastic cover off of some LCD
    calculators, turn it around, and get transparent digits on a black
    background….I’ve done it. ;-)

    Anyway, back to the discussion, I find it humorous how my neighbor’s
    Ford Aerostar Eddie Bauer Edition has digital guages that are
    designed to look like bar-graphs.  I mean, why not just put in an
    analog guage in the first place?  And their fuel guage bar graph
    only has about 6 segments on it.  Accuracy notwithstanding, they
    don’t even have the required precision IMHO.

    Kenneth.Finne…@nrlssc.navy.mil

  9. admin says:

    >>: I really like the LED speedometers and other LED gauges.
    >>You mean LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) not LED (Light Emitting Diode)
    > I’m fairly certain he meant LED.  I’ve never seen a vehicle yet with an LCD
    >display, although I’m sure they make them.

    I really meant digital vs analog.  How they accomplish it is no matter to
    me.  I just like it.

    Cheers!

            Alex

    **************************************************************************
    Alex Schwarzer                             ASCHW…@CORB.REHAB.UALBERTA.CA
    Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
    University of Alberta                           Don’t marry for money
    Edmonton, Alberta, Canada                     You can borrow it cheaper
    **************************************************************************

  10. admin says:

    - Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    In article <CpLoo2….@boi.hp.com> w…@boi.hp.com (Wes Fujii) writes:
    >Alex Schwarzer (Aschw…@corb.rehab.ualberta.ca) wrote:
    >: I really like the LED speedometers and other LED gauges.  Knowing that you

    >You mean LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) not LED (Light Emitting Diode)

    >: are exactly going 73km/h is great.  Is it possible to get LED gauges as
    >      ^^^^^^^
    >A digital readout isn’t any more accurate than the analog pickup
    >unit or in the case of your speedometer, your constantly wearing tires
    >on your rig.  In fact, your vehicle may not have the correct diameter
    >tires to go with your vehicle’s gearing anyway.  The only way to know
    >for sure is to be calibrated somehow, and who goes to that bother anyway?  
    >Just because the tires came stock on the car doesn’t mean that they are
    >the ones that will be ‘accurately’ reading on your speedometer.  Just
    >pick up a vehicle spec sheet and see how many different tires can come
    >stock on it.  Heck, even the same size in different brands have different
    >actual diameters.

    >My vehicle speed is analog (it would be a pretty annoying ride if it
    >were digital).  I like an analog speedometer…

    >Wes Fujii

    In actuality, the displays are probably VF – vacuum flourescent.  Corvettes
    look like they could be LCDs, though.

    Even that "analog" gauge may be digitally controlled on newer vehicles.  If
    it registers speed in reverse, a computer somewhere is just counting pulses
    and sending the right signal to the gauge.

    I agree with the preference for the ol’ needle on my dash, though.  It
    leaves a little room for fudging when Officer Friendly asks, "You know
    how fast you were going?".  :)

    John Goodrich                        
    Advanced Powertrain Systems           c23…@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com
    Delco Electronics Corp.               (317) 451-0463  GM: 8-322-0463

  11. admin says:

    In article <Aschwarz.228.000A1…@corb.rehab.ualberta.ca>, Aschw…@corb.rehab.u

    alberta.ca (Alex Schwarzer) writes:
    >I was just wondering….

    >I really like the LED speedometers and other LED gauges.  Knowing that you
    >are exactually going 73km/h is great.  Is it possible to get LED gauges as
    >an option on most cars (if you want to pay for it) or it is dependant on
    >whether the car maker offers it with that particular car/model?

    YUK!!!  Give be analog any day B^)  I especially like the guages in the Viper
    & Maxima.  Black on white.  Cool.

    Jason

      —————
     |j…@lehigh.edu| "Nindyn vel’uss kyorl nind ratha thalra elghinn
     |    a.k.a.     |  dal lil alust."
     |    Jason      |                     -or-
     |   Euculano    | Those who watch their backs meet death from the front.
      ~~R.~K.~B.~A.~~

  12. admin says:

    John Goodrich (c23…@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com) wrote:

    : In actuality, the displays are probably VF – vacuum flourescent.  Corvettes
    : look like they could be LCDs, though.

    Yup.  I forgot about those.

    : Even that "analog" gauge may be digitally controlled on newer vehicles.  If
    : it registers speed in reverse, a computer somewhere is just counting pulses
    : and sending the right signal to the gauge.

    Yes, but the data input rate is many more times the output resolution,
    plus, my guess is that it sends a DC voltage to the speedometer, which
    is analog.  According to digital theory, if the input rate is X times the
    resolution required, then you can accurately reconstruct an analog signal.
    I don’t have any problems with digital input/processing devices if that’s
    what they are doing.  If the speedometer movement is smooth, then it’s
    close enough for me.

    All my speedometers are the ol’ cable-turning-in-the-sleeve hookup to the
    transmission, non-calibrated of course.

    : I agree with the preference for the ol’ needle on my dash, though.  It
    : leaves a little room for fudging when Officer Friendly asks, "You know
    : how fast you were going?".  :)

    It really irks me by the manufacturers that have the "digital" oil pressure
    gauges.  You have an analog gauge run by a switch (digital on/off).  With
    the switch closed, it reads mid-stroke.  With it open, it reads low.  So
    the driver thinks they’ve got an analog gauge, but what they have is a
    little worse than an idiot light.  If your oil pressure gauge doesn’t vary
    when you drive (rpm), plus vary when it is hot/cold, then you’ve got one of
    these systems!  

    I was impressed to read that the Isuzu Trooper has both "working" oil
    pressure gauge plus and idiot light!

    Wes Fujii
    ________________________________________________________________
          ___   ___ ___
         /  /  /  //  /
        /  /__/  //  /    A real motor is an Oldsmobile Rocket 455
       /  HURST //  /     "This is NOT the new generation of Olds"
      /  /  /  //  /_______
     /__/  /__//  //  ___  \
              /  //  /   \  \       Wes "BANZAI" Fujii
             /  //  /OLDS/  /          Boise, Idaho
            /  / \  \___/  /      w…@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com
           /__/   \_______/

  13. admin says:

    Enough with the LCD/LED debate.

    On a different note (back to the original question at hand) I know Summit
    Racing selles a complete array of LED-based gadgetry for dashboards.

    Following is out of their catalog:

            3 3/8" Speedo LED 0-199MPH                   CYB-8002 $106.99
                   Requires sending unit #CYB-8901

            3 3/8" Tach LED 0-9900RPM in 100RPM incr.    CYB-8081 $ 98.39
                   Adjustable redline

            3 3/8" Speedo w/odometer 0-199MPH            CYB-9002 $149.99
                   Tracks 0-60ET and top speed
                   Requires sending unit #CYB-8901    

            Speedo Sending Unit (GM/Chrysler apps)       CYB-8901 $ 19.99

            2 1/16" Water Temp 0-350F                    CYB-8003 $ 30.99
                   Sending Unit                          CYB-8911 $ 12.95

            2 1/16" Oil Temp 0-350F                      CYB-8008 $ 30.99
                   Sending Unit                          CYB-8911 $ 12.95

            2 1/16" Trans Temp 0-350F                    CYB-8007 $ 30.99
                   Sending Unit                          CYB-8911 $ 12.95

            2 1/16" Oil Pressure 0-99psi                 CYB-8004 $ 30.99
                   Sending Unit                          CYB-8921 $ 18.50

            2 1/16" Fuel Gauge 0-99 gallons (GM)         CYB-8006 $ 30.99
                                            (Ford/Chrys) CYB-8016 $ 30.99

            2 1/16" Voltmeter 6-35 volts                 CYB-8005 $ 30.99

            2 1/16" Clock Quartz Movement                CYB-8009 $ 42.99

            2 1/16" Air/Fuel analog bar graph Rich/Lean  CYB-7009 $ 29.99
                   Exhaust Oxy Sensor                    CYB-8941 $ 53.99

    These prices are out of their Winter/93 catalog, so pricing or part numbers
    may have changed since.

    They can be reached at (216) 630-0200, and are located in Akron, OH.

  14. admin says:

    In article <Aschwarz.228.000A1…@corb.rehab.ualberta.ca> Aschw…@corb.rehab.ualberta.ca (Alex Schwarzer) writes:

    >I really like the LED speedometers and other LED gauges.  Knowing that you
    >are exactually going 73km/h is great.  Is it possible to get LED gauges as
    >an option on most cars (if you want to pay for it) or it is dependant on
    >whether the car maker offers it with that particular car/model?

    You are exactually going 73km/h >IF< your speedo is accurately calibrated,
    AND if you’re running properly sized/inflated tires for that calibration.

    My 1986 HONDA Aspencade has the LED guages.  (Un)fortunately, it has
    two less wheels that most of the vehicles in this group.

    Ride safe,

    ED

  15. admin says:

    In article <Aschwarz.236.000BC…@corb.rehab.ualberta.ca>,

    Alex Schwarzer <Aschw…@corb.rehab.ualberta.ca> wrote:
    >>>: I really like the LED speedometers and other LED gauges.

    >>>You mean LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) not LED (Light Emitting Diode)

    >> I’m fairly certain he meant LED.  I’ve never seen a vehicle yet with an LCD
    >>display, although I’m sure they make them.

    >I really meant digital vs analog.  How they accomplish it is no matter to
    >me.  I just like it.

    Someone I knew in high school had an intermittant Digital display :-( .  He
    never had any idea how fast he was going, how much gas he had, etc… I
    wasn’t impressed.

    >Cheers!

    >    Alex

    >**************************************************************************
    >Alex Schwarzer                             ASCHW…@CORB.REHAB.UALBERTA.CA
    >Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
    >University of Alberta                           Don’t marry for money
    >Edmonton, Alberta, Canada                     You can borrow it cheaper
    >**************************************************************************


    ==============================================================================
    Mark Wright    wrig0…@gold.tc.umn.edu

  16. admin says:

    Incidentally, can anyone name the FIRST car with a digital dash?  Give you
    a hint – it’s NOT the Lincoln Town Car or Ford Thunderbird of 1980.
    Forget about Datsun or Corvette, it was WAY before that.  Think
    mid-seventies.  One of you car buffs out there should know it, but I’d be
    impressed if anybody actually had one of these vehicles. (They’re quite
    XPENSV)

    Later,


    MIKE HARKER
    PRESIDENT, ENIGMA RESEARCH
    OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA
    BUS: (613) 239-4556   HOME: (613) 825-8801

  17. admin says:

    clayton EDward LEIHY iii (c…@nsscmail.southplainfieldnj.ncr.com) wrote:

    : You are exactually going 73km/h >IF< your speedo is accurately calibrated,
    : AND if you’re running properly sized/inflated tires for that calibration.

    And your tires are worn to the appropriate diameter, whatever that
    diameter is, only the original design engineer knows.  How do you know
    that your speedo is calibrated accurately?

    My digital watch says it’s precisely 7:32:09.  The clock on the wall says
    it’s 7:29:43.  I KNOW that they are BOTH WRONG according to absolute time.

    Wes Fujii
    ________________________________________________________________
          ___   ___ ___
         /  /  /  //  /
        /  /__/  //  /    A real motor is an Oldsmobile Rocket 455
       /  HURST //  /     "This is NOT the new generation of Olds"
      /  /  /  //  /_______
     /__/  /__//  //  ___  \
              /  //  /   \  \       Wes "BANZAI" Fujii
             /  //  /OLDS/  /          Boise, Idaho
            /  / \  \___/  /      w…@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com
           /__/   \_______/

  18. admin says:

    Mike Harker (ae…@FreeNet.Carleton.CA) wrote:

    : Incidentally, can anyone name the FIRST car with a digital dash?

    I don’t know about the digital dash, but a digital tach from Hurst
    was optional on the ’75 Hurst/Olds.

    Wes Fujii
    ________________________________________________________________
          ___   ___ ___
         /  /  /  //  /
        /  /__/  //  /    A real motor is an Oldsmobile Rocket 455
       /  HURST //  /     "This is NOT the new generation of Olds"
      /  /  /  //  /_______
     /__/  /__//  //  ___  \
              /  //  /   \  \       Wes "BANZAI" Fujii
             /  //  /OLDS/  /          Boise, Idaho
            /  / \  \___/  /      w…@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com
           /__/   \_______/

  19. admin says:

    In article <CpLoo2….@boi.hp.com> w…@boi.hp.com (Wes Fujii) writes:
    >My vehicle speed is analog (it would be a pretty annoying ride if it
    >were digital).  I like an analog speedometer…

    Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t most modern cars digitize the
    speed at the sensor and then send it everywhere it needs to go in digital
    form? I recall reading a while back that Saturns worked this way, and I
    assume it is the reason for GM’s "tap up or down 1 MPH" cruise controls:
    because the resolution is limited to 1 MPH increments or decrements. I
    believe the digital signal is converted back to analog just for the sake
    of the driver. (BTW, I’m slightly biased toward analog myself, but I’ve
    got a digital in my new car, and really haven’t been annoyed with it yet.)


    Robert Cheek – rch…@uceng.uc.edu

  20. admin says:

    Alex Schwarzer (Aschw…@corb.rehab.ualberta.ca) wrote:

    : Is it possible to get LED gauges as
    : an option on most cars (if you want to pay for it) or it is dependant on
    : whether the car maker offers it with that particular car/model?

    The option never really caught on — some designs were hard to read in
    daylight, and given the nature of the self-illuminated display, it was
    easy to go blundering along at dusk without remembering to turn your
    lights on.

    There are aftermarket add-on gauges in LED styles, both digital and
    analog layouts, available via mail-order outfits like J.C. Whitney. For
    some extremely popular cars such as Firebirds/Camaros, there are also
    aftermarket manufacturers of bolt-in LED displays that directly replace
    the factory analog units, but I have no idea whether those are any good.

    – Andy

  21. admin says:

    As for the trivia question, my guess is the Citroen.  But what I’m
    thinking of isn’t exactly a digital dash, but one that mechanically
    flips number signs like some old clocks.

  22. admin says:

    In article <1994May11.230027.188…@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu> j…@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (JASON STEVEN EUCULANO) writes:

    >In article <Aschwarz.228.000A1…@corb.rehab.ualberta.ca>, Aschw…@corb.rehab.u
    >>I really like the LED speedometers and other LED gauges.  Knowing that you
    >>are exactually going 73km/h is great.  Is it possible to get LED gauges as
    >>an option on most cars (if you want to pay for it) or it is dependant on
    >>whether the car maker offers it with that particular car/model?
    >YUK!!!  Give be analog any day B^)  I especially like the guages in the Viper
    >& Maxima.  Black on white.  Cool.

    I agreee YUK !!! And you can’t see how fast you are accelerating
    with digital numbers … you canonly see the numbers change and
    during acceleration, you can’t do the math fast enough to see if you
     are getting faster (needle incresing at a quick rate) or if you are
    going faster, but at a slower rate…its like a derivative of
    velocity

    I DO NOT WANT TO START A CALCULUS / PHYSICS DISCUSSSION

    I’m just saying that you cant see accelleration as good
    on digital guages…plus they lok shitty.

    "I’m not a cool guy anymore"                          -Fork  
            LOOCSITOP     NIN     44     dfrie…@sdcc13.ucsd.edu  

  23. admin says:

    In article <67…@sdcc12.ucsd.edu> dfrie…@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (David Friedman) writes:
    >From: dfrie…@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (David Friedman)
    >Subject: Re: LED Dashboards
    >Date: 14 May 94 19:16:39 GMT
    >I agreee YUK !!! And you can’t see how fast you are accelerating
    >with digital numbers … you canonly see the numbers change and
    >during acceleration, you can’t do the math fast enough to see if you
    > are getting faster (needle incresing at a quick rate) or if you are
    >going faster, but at a slower rate…its like a derivative of
    >velocity

    Uh, the little numbers change more quickly when you accelerate.  At some
    sampling rate, there will be gaps in displayed numbers.  The same process
    occurs during deceleration.  It doesn’t take long to get used to digital guages
    provided they are easy to see – a criteria that also holds for analog guages.
    I think that it was easier than switching from a slide rule to a digital
    calculator. :-)

    >I’m just saying that you cant see accelleration as good on digital
    >guages…plus they lok shitty.

    The best (and safest) way to see acceleration is to look out the windshield.  
    I don’t think driving with one’s eyes glued to an instrument guage is a good
    idea.  But, I think some drivers do just that. :-)
    ————————————————————-
    Eric Webb / Martin Marietta
    EPA National Computer Center
    Research Commons, 79 Alexander Drive, Bldg 4501
    Research Triangle Park, N.C., 27711
    Phone: 919-541-7896  Fax: 919-541-0028

  24. admin says:

    >In article <1994May11.230027.188…@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu> j…@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (JASON STEVEN EUCULANO) writes:

    (discussion regarding attractiveness of LED/LCD gauges deleted)  

    >I agreee YUK !!! And you can’t see how fast you are accelerating
    >with digital numbers … you canonly see the numbers change and
    >during acceleration, you can’t do the math fast enough to see if you
    > are getting faster (needle incresing at a quick rate) or if you are
    >going faster, but at a slower rate…its like a derivative of
    >velocity

    There are a number of reasons for the increase in "silicon gauges" in
    cars:

    1.  They are cheaper to manufacture than mechanical gauges;

    2.  They can be more reliable over the long haul than their mechanical
        counterparts;

    3.  Because they look high tech, American buyers will pay more for them

    4.  Combine reason #1 with reason #3 and one gets more profit for
        the industry.

    And the pity of it all is that the quality of information reaching the
    driver in a way she/he can easily assimilate >>is not<< a criteria in
    promoting digital gauges.  Several human factors studies have shown
    that the assimilation of info from a mechanical, analogue gauge ocurrs
    more quickly than the digital counterpart.

    ———————————————————————-
       Mark Covey:                      | Disclaimer: Just speaking for  
         co…@cobber.cord.edu          |   myself.                      
         co…@vax.cord.edu             | —-(this space for rent)—–  
    ———————————————————————-

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