So-called fidget devices might have come to prominence in the last five years or so with fidget spinners, but the concept of items that reduce stress runs very deep. Examples include the Greek worry beads from Cypriot culture and Baoding balls, more commonly known as Chinese meditation balls.
We can’t think of an obvious and deliberate example built into a car, let alone a steering wheel, which is actually kind of mind-blowing. With road rage such a problem in modern society, active measures to help reduce that stress seem like a no-brainer. CarBuzz found a patent recently published by Volkswagen that could be a step in the right direction. And the solution could be literally at drivers’ fingertips.
Stress Reduction Via The Steering Wheel
Volkswagen fidget patentVolkswagen
Volkswagen’s stress reduction device patent is relatively straightforward – a tactile pad built into the steering wheel within easy reach of a finger when the wheel is held normally. The texture can be anything from soft, deformable dimpled rubber to a textured piece of metal to a haptic-feedback switch, or a combination of these. Another suggestion in the patent is to have the device include roller balls, but playing with haptic-feedback switches is the most interesting idea.
According to the patent, the switch could make a clicking noise with a corresponding haptic feedback, generated by a mechanical element. An example given is to use spring steel that’s embossed in such a way that it has a stable and a metastable state. As a result of the action of force, it is bent until it suddenly passes through the metastable state by buckling. The sudden jumping at this point produces the clicking noise.
Customization Of Stress Relief
Volkswagen fidget patentVolkswagen
As the device is embedded into the steering wheel, Volkswagen suggests it can be replaceable, which opens the door for VW to sell a varied selection of fidget options. In the never-ending hunt by automakers to make money from customers after they’ve bought a vehicle, it likely wouldn’t be the most profitable accessory. However, VW is very much in need of adding back some personality to its vehicles.
While the idea may not be as iconic as the dimpled golf ball shift knob for the Golf GTI’s manual transmission, it does take the idea of tactility in a car’s interior a step further. We could see an aftermarket opening up if it became a standard across Volkswagen’s lineup. Given the limitations in size, the aftermarket would, no doubt, find ways to get creative.
Patent filings do not guarantee the use of such technology in future vehicles and are often used exclusively as a means of protecting intellectual property. Such a filing cannot be construed as confirmation of production intent.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters
2027 Volkswagen Atlas Studio ShotsVolkswagen
There are two ways of looking at this patent. On the one hand, it simply doesn’t matter and would be nothing more than a useless novelty. On the other hand, it shows that Volkswagen is looking at the idea of tactility in vehicles. In reality, the idea of fidget devices having a tangible therapeutic value is debatable. At worst, there is exactly zero scientific evidence yet that they are of any discernible value. But, it offers a potential low-cost solution to a very big problem.
We choose to believe Volkswagen is doing what a lot of automakers should be doing – thinking more about the interior of a car being an environment people spend time in. Audi certainly has, and it’s part of the Volkswagen Group. What people feel when they touch a surface might not be top of mind, but it is a consistent part of the experience in any environment.
Source: DPMA
