A button instead of a touchscreen: BYD Smart Button for quick access to car functions

While most of the world’s automakers continue to fanatically hide all the controls in complex and deep menus of 15-inch touchscreen displays, the Chinese giant BYD decided to show concern for basic safety and driver ergonomics. At the presentation of the premium electric SUV Great Tang, the brand presented a miniature BYD Smart Button magnetic button.

The smart gadget is an ergonomic rounded wireless controller equipped with a reliable magnetic base. Due to its versatility, the BYD Smart Button is easy to attach in any convenient and familiar place — from the center console or the side panel of the driver’s door to the plane of the steering wheel.

The creators position the development as a tool for improving road safety. It is designed to stop the need to look at the multimedia tablet screen on the go and try to make endless chaotic clicks.

Technical characteristics and principle of operation

The magnetic device uses special next-generation near-field communication chips for wireless instant synchronization with the on-board digital system of the electric vehicle. Despite the compact form factor, this module supports three separate tactile interaction mechanics:

• Single click (to perform one standard customized action);
• Double click (to activate additional functions);
• Scroll / rotation control (with the help of this physical option, it is extremely convenient to change the temperature of the climate control system or adjust the volume of the media center).

Possibilities of setting multimedia space

Through the general operating system of the SUV, the car owner has access to independent software customization of more than 20 different everyday functions of the car. Instant opening of the panoramic sunroof, quick locking of the glass or activation of the heating and massage function of the driver’s seat can be easily linked to this quick key. Using a real switch is much more reliable than voice assistants, which often give critical failures due to road background wind noise, whirring wheels or music playing in the speakers.

Comparison of concepts

The trend of returning to physical tactility has been launched in industry quite recently. A striking example of such concern was the appearance of a button dock panel under the lower end of the touchscreen in the Xiaomi SU7 flagship. But in the BYD brand, the system is made more autonomous and functional – it is portable, since the driver is free to choose the mount individually according to his driving style.

At the moment, the button is an accessory for the top-level Great Tang car, but market experts assure that with a successful response from users, this module will easily become a standard optional equipment for the entire low-cost serial line of the brand.