Electronic Switch Shifter with Backlight installed! Pics!

Ha! No, I want one but they seem terribly overpriced to me. Also, changing the button locations might not be as simple as one would think. Consider these excerpts from the Service Manual:

• The electronic shift lever system is a linkless type that does not use a shift cable.
• The shift and select sensors are non-contact type sensors.

"The shift lock control unit assembly (selector lever) contains a shift sensor and a select sensor to detect the selector lever position (R, N, D or B ). Because both sensors operate using Hall elements, they can accurately detect shift positions in a reliable manner. Both sensors contain two detection circuits, a main and a sub circuit."

"The shift sensor outputs voltage, which varies between 0 and 5 V in accordance with the vertical movement of the selector lever, to the power management control ECU (HV CPU). The power management control ECU (HV CPU) interprets low level voltage input from the shift sensor as the D or B position, middle level voltage as the home or N position, and high level voltage as the R position."

Etc.

 

That looks totally awesome bro, gonna have to do that sooon on my V

 

If your hand was already there, then yes push button would be quicker. However, your hand will be on or near the steering wheel. Grabbing the only thing that needs to be gripped and throwing in the correct direction intuitively based on habit is much faster than the time it takes to "properly place your hand" then push the correct button without looking, especially under duress.

 

I find it interesting that you put quotes around 'properly place your hand' as if you were quoting me, when in fact you have completely reversed the meaning of my words. The key is that the design causes your hand to be properly placed.

Pushing one button 'intuitively based on habit' requires one motion and fewer and smaller muscles groups. Moving a shifter is at least two motions (one of which must be maintained), and more, larger muscle groups.

Looking is of course not necessary, unless you think looking is necessary for a shifter (which seems to be the case for many people here) 'especially under duress'.

If you think it is applicable, you are welcome to look up the research of human interface design on keyboards versus mice.

 

I have not changed the meaning of your words. If the design causes your hand to be properly placed, you must first put your hand there in a certain way and you have no time for that. You have the potential of hitting three wrong buttons versus throwing the shifter in the only correct direction. The research of human interface design on keyboards versus mice isn't applicable in this situation given it doesn't test the reaction time and error rate of the hand first being over 2 feet away (as it'd be on or near the steering wheel).

 

Hey guys why don't we get a car where we have to do nothing. Just put the gps address and read the newspaper and it'll take us there. More like a "google car" concept? That way we don't have to worry about one muscle or two muscle. It will be no muscle !!

 

Yah... it's called the internet

But I still want one of these gadgets... even with the buttons in the "wrong places." And although dear wife's spending early June in Tokyo, I don't have the cojones to ask her to bring one back.

 

Now you are just making things up. Anyone think the 2010 shifter is 'over 2 feet away' from the steering wheel? I'm done here.

 

The farthest point is around 21 inches and the hand could be anywhere and not even on the steering wheel, especially if you happen to find yourself in the middle of oncoming traffic with the steering wheel turned all the way to the left and need to reverse quickly. Whether the hand is right next to the shifter or 2 feet away, it's still faster to grab the only thing that needs to be gripped and throw in the correct direction versus moving your hand there and pushing the correct button out of four without thinking.

 

Ya but if someone can't think, they should probably not drive !

 

Easier said than done. We've had too many threads from people who come out of accidents forgetting to turn off the car, attempt to get out of the car without putting in park, etc. all while being distracted.

 

I personally don't like the silver finish. Matte black or grey to be "in sync" with the rest of the dashboard would look better IMHO. But the idea of buttons instead of a lever is not really a bad idea - though I find the lever faster to change from D to R - or maybe it is only my impression...

In any case, the shift lever is also not looking good (Audi/BMW or Ferrari designers could have helped here...), not considering it looks "cheap" (plastics are not the best, honestly) and it is not retro-illuminated.
And I have seen the shift lever on the Lexus CT200h, and that looks crap as well...

 

Nice i like it.

 

Very cool! I like how it cleans up the center console / dash area.

With regards to learning curve and safety... I've only owned my prius for a couple weeks and I still have to look at the shift pattern to get into the right mode. I'm sure I'll eventually develop muscle memory like I have for a manual stick so I don't think this would be much more difficult.

 

Does the APR one only have one color as opposed to the OGS one that has multiple colors?
I like the picture of the APR one better then the OGS logo. But like the color changing of the OGS one.

For those that dont like the silver one, Tom's has one that is black!

 

Looks Fantastic. I would buy one in a second if they made a version for the Gen 2 Prius. I would think that the wiring for the Joy Stick would be identical for both the Gen's 2 & 3. Seems like you could actually use this in the Gen 2 if some retooling were done to make it fit. Anyone tried it?

 

An update for anyone interested as I saw this today and they have come up with a green version to blend in with the rest of the dash lights.

 

Mods please delete this double post. I clicked too fast it seems.

 

This might help a little more: Google Translated Site for those not fluent in Japanese.

 

Get the OGS switch as its lighting is made of RGB LEDs and the appearance can easily be changed. I have it green with the logo in blue.