No matter what car you get into, the dash should be self explanatory. In other words, you should be able to quickly and easily operate the climate-control system in any car without any new learning.

The dashboard used to be just a panel under the windshield of your car that held the instruments and some controls. Now it’s a hot area, a high priority space fought over by hi-tech special interest groups.

Now that cars are becoming communication centers as well as simple transportation, an array of new technologies are looking for their spot in that crucial area of the dash that is within the driver’s reach and visual field. They range from fuel gauges and speedometers to mobile phone docks, navigation systems and even entertainment centers.