This is one of the coolest tech things I've seen in a while: The SPLITVIEW COMMAND display from Mercedes-Benz.

Starting in the Summer of 2009, Mercedes S-class drivers will be offered a display system that allows driver and passenger to view two different things on the same display simultaneously. So the driver might be looking at the navigation system while her passenger watches a DVD - on the same screen!

How does it work? Why, with pixels and filters, of course! The two images will be arranged on adjacent pixels, and a filter directs the images to the right and left, allowing both occupants to use the same 8-inch display with no overlapping.

And as a safety measure, the passenger has the option of using headphones, so the driver won't be distracted by whatever the passenger is watching.

So now, between dual-climate zones and the SPLITVIEW display, S-class occupants can enjoy their own environments without irritating each other. Will these help bring back the days of the American road trip? Probably not, but we'll definitely be more comfortable for our trips to the outlet malls.

via emercedesbenz.com