1980s General Motors Touchscreen A View Into The Future: Video
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Back in the 1980s, when everything went digital in the misplaced zeal that better living was always possible through technology, General Motors produced a touch screen cathode ray tube (CRT) that was in many ways the prototype for today’s infotainment systems. Called the Electronic Control Center (Buick Riviera and Reatta) or Visual Information Center (Oldsmobile Toronado), this mid/late-1980s option combined the climate control system, radio, and diagnostic functions all in one unit.
Business Insider recently revisited this option and quoted a surprising opinion, in particular one from a 1992 review by the Orlando Sentinel’s Richard Truett who wrote that “I have never seen anything like this in a car.” Sounds like neat gee-whiz technology, but if you read many of the buff books of the time, you’ll notice they took GM to task for creating a distraction that required several steps to change the radio station.
Eventually, both Buick and Oldsmobile abandoned their CRT systems and resorting back to the old-fashioned radio dials or even (gasp!) buttons − the latter continuing to confound drivers today. But as modern transportation has required GPS and other tech-laden options, the touch screen has made a comeback of sorts . . . with many of the same functionality issues as 25 years ago. This time, however, infotainment systems are likely here to stay, and it seems they are much more ergonomic than what GM had in the past.
Take a look at the below video of MotorWeek’s test of the 1990 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo.
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Though plagued with issues, these CRT interfaces were quite innovative and were most definitely way ahead of their time. It’s good knowing that an American company debuted this tech. Too bad many of the same issues persists today as they did during that time; hopefully Apple and Google can lend their services to the automotive industry in a greater way and help produce a usable touchscreen interface.
This is like so many other GM first. It was great but almost too early to get it right. Kind of like the cylinder drop the hardware was just not good enough at the time and the failures often painted it as a problem. Now with better hardware they are the norm.
We saw it with air bags, night vision and other things over the years.
Wow, that clip brings back so many memories. My mom rented a 1986 Buick Rivera for me to take my date to the prom and it had one of those touch screens. I remember the Trofeo, too. It was pretty slick looking for the time.