Proposed changes to M nav system

[Blastphemy]

I've put together a bare-bones website that tries to recreate portions of the Infiniti 2012 M navigation system. I hope to eventually send this presentation to Infiniti for the purpose of demonstrating interface revisions that I believe will make the system better. (Rather than sending a long list of "please fix this" and "please fix that," an actual demonstration of a theoretical final product will probably have more of an impact and convey the specific changes more clearly.)

BUT...I now know better than to send something to Infiniti before the enthusiasts on NicoClub have had their say!! I'm always impressed how the many different points-of-view and backgrounds on this forum manage to identify issues and propose solutions that I (and Infiniti) have never thought of. So I eagerly await your feedback, suggestions, criticisms, and comments.

On each page that I've changed, the NEW version of the particular screen is on the left with a blue background, while the CURRENT version (as of May 2011) is on the right with no background.

All the buttons and links that work in the real nav system should also work on this website. However, since it's not connected to a database and is quite fake, buttons like "Recalculate Route," "ON," "YES," "Return All Settings to Default," etc. don't do anything. The "Back" button on every page does work, however, and should navigate properly.

Each page with active buttons tells you which ones lead to settings with additional changes recommended.

The link is: http://www.esrcal.com/infiniti

The menu pages I modified are:

On the steering wheel:
MENU OPTIONS (left "Enter" switch button)
PHONE

On the center console:
DISPLAY

DESTINATION
DESTINATION > MORE (i.e., NEXT PAGE)

ROUTE
ROUTE > ROUTE SETTINGS
ROUTE > ROUTE SETTINGS > BASIC ROUTE TYPE (i.e., BASIC ROUTE SETTINGS)
ROUTE > ROUTE SETTINGS > OTHER ROUTING CHOICES (i.e., ADVANCED ROUTE SETTINGS)
ROUTE > GUIDANCE SETTINGS

INFORMATION
INFORMATION > MAP UPDATE (i.e., MAP/SYSTEM VERSION)
INFORMATION > OTHERS (i.e., MORE...)
INFORMATION > OTHERS > INTERIOR/EXTERIOR TEMPERATURE (new)

SETTINGS
SETTINGS > PHONE
SETTINGS > DRIVER ASSISTANCE (i.e., SAFETY SYSTEMS)
SETTINGS > DRIVER ASSISTANCE > DRIVER ASSISTANCE WARNINGS
SETTINGS > DRIVER ASSISTANCE > DYNAMIC ASSISTANCE SETTINGS
SETTINGS > OTHERS (i.e., MORE...)
SETTINGS > OTHERS > DISPLAY (same as DISPLAY button on center console)
SETTINGS > OTHERS > COMFORT
SETTINGS > OTHERS > COMFORT > DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK SETTINGS (new)
SETTINGS > OTHERS > COMFORT > LIGHTING SETTINGS (new)
SETTINGS > NAVIGATION
SETTINGS > NAVIGATION > GUIDANCE SETTINGS
SETTINGS > NAVIGATION > ROUTE SETTINGS (same as ROUTE > ROUTE SETTINGS)
SETTINGS > NAVIGATION > SPEED LIMIT INFO
SETTINGS > NAVIGATION > MANAGE STORED INFO (i.e., DELETES STORED INFO)

In case anyone is curious, I've been a GUI (graphical user interface) designer and technical support provider at several websites/companies, and learned quite a bit about how people interact with computer systems during the past 12 years. I also graduated Magnu cum lauda with Distinguished Honors in English, which led me to be a copy editor and editor for a period of time, too. Hopefully my experience can help Infiniti make their cars even better.

One final note: This proposed navigation system assumes the vehicle has both the PREMIUM and TECHNOLOGY packages. I don't believe anything would be different with the Deluxe Touring package, but I could be wrong.

I'll make changes to this proposal when members of NicoClub come to a consensus on any item that requires modification, and let you all know when changes have been made (and what they were).

Thank you for all your help! Let's help Infiniti help us by making a better nav for you and me to use!!!

[FNAWSM]

I think the fact that so few of us actually have the new model you may be limited in your constructive responses. I applaud your drive to make a realistic attempt at a change rather than just crying about the system like myself and many others have/do. Best of luck

PS. Ill respond back to this with my opinion in about 3 years when i trade my m45 in for a 'previously loved' m37 or m56.

[a.blanco0905]

PS. Ill respond back to this with my opinion in about 3 years when i trade my m45 in for a 'previously loved' m37 or m56.

[Ilya]

PS. Ill respond back to this with my opinion in about 3 years when i trade my m45 in for a 'previously loved' m37 or m56.

I do hope to have a new M in...4 years or so.

[EniGmA1987]

Very nice changes. I dont know if it is Infiniti that will have to implement those, or Navteq on their end with the programing. Either way, nice job trying to get this done.

[AZhitman]

Nicely done, sir.

I'll be glad to pass it on to my contact at Corporate as well - just say the word.

[Blastphemy]

I think the fact that so few of us actually have the new model you may be limited in your constructive responses. I applaud your drive to make a realistic attempt at a change rather than just crying about the system like myself and many others have/do. Best of luck

I don't think the nav system has changed much between 2011 and 2012. The only big difference I saw was that one can now disable individual warnings systems in addition to intervention systems.

Is this nav layout dissimilar to the 2009-2010 Infiniti systems? I don't even remember my 2008 M or 2009 FX having a radically different system, but it's been a while and my memory ain't what it used to be!

Regardless, even if you don't actually have a 2012 M, any feedback based on the system as recreated on that website would be very helpful. If the only responses I receive are "I like it," then I'll send it off to my Infiniti contact on Monday.

[Blastphemy]

Nicely done, sir.

I'll be glad to pass it on to my contact at Corporate as well - just say the word.

@AZhitman - If you don't see any critical posts in this thread over the next six days that recommend changes, I'd be grateful if you could pass this on to your Infiniti contacts. Thank you very much for your advocacy.

[Blastphemy]

Based on suggestions from outside this forum, I've made change to the following pages:

VOLUME & BEEPS - http://www.esrcal.com/infiniti/volume_and_sounds.html
TRAFFIC INFO SETTINGS - http://www.esrcal.com/infiniti/traffic_ ... tings.html
ROUTE GUIDANCE SETTINGS - http://www.esrcal.com/infiniti/route_gu ... tings.html

I've also added a site-wide menu at the top of every page to make it easier for you to jump around without having to use back buttons.

Please let me know if you find any navigation errors, broken links, or typos.

Thank you!

[AZhitman]

Nicely done, sir.

I'll be glad to pass it on to my contact at Corporate as well - just say the word.

@AZhitman - If you don't see any critical posts in this thread over the next six days that recommend changes, I'd be grateful if you could pass this on to your Infiniti contacts. Thank you very much for your advocacy.

Roger that.

[cruzad3r]

Since I don't have the newer nav, I can't comment on how easier or harder to use. However I do agree with most of your recommendation. For instance the redial feature. If Infiniti remove that on the newer car, it needs to go back. Another thing is under the convienences, they need to add in the feature that automatically increase the sound volume as you increase speed while driving.

Overall, great job and kudos for putting the site together.

[Blastphemy]

I'm working on the INFORMATION > OTHERS > VOICE RECOGNITION > COMMAND LIST page at the moment. Hopefully it'll be the final page before I send this to Infiniti.

Does anyone have any suggestions for voice commands that I should add that you wish Infiniti had included in the M (that aren't already on the page)?

See http://www.esrcal.com/infiniti/command_list.html

[Blastphemy]

I've added a list of changed pages to the bottom of the home page for easier navigation. This way, no one has to click through the entire system just to find the 33-odd pages that have recommended changes. I think that's my final change, except for a few voice commands being added to the previously referenced page. Thanks for checking out my proposal and giving me good feedback.