A system for modifying a stiffness of a surface of a vehicle component, the system comprising: one or more devices coupled to the vehicle component, wherein the vehicle component is included in a control system located within a passenger compartment of a vehicle; a processor coupled to the one or more devices, the processor configured to: determine that a software application has switched from a first mode to a second mode; and cause the one or more devices to modify the stiffness of the surface of the vehicle component from a first stiffness associated with the first mode to a second stiffness associated with the second mode while retaining a shape of the surface of the vehicle component, wherein, when a force is exerted upon the vehicle component, the vehicle component deforms by a different amount under the first stiffness than under the second stiffness, characterised in that the first mode corresponds to a first level of a menu hierarchy and the second mode corresponds to a second level of the menu hierarchy; and in that a stiffness manager increases or decreases the stiffness of a region in the surface of the vehicle component in response to navigation by a user based on a level within the menu hierarchy one or more devices coupled to the vehicle component, wherein the vehicle component is included in a control system located within a passenger compartment of a vehicle; a processor coupled to the one or more devices, the processor configured to: determine that a software application has switched from a first mode to a second mode; and cause the one or more devices to modify the stiffness of the surface of the vehicle component from a first stiffness associated with the first mode to a second stiffness associated with the second mode while retaining a shape of the surface of the vehicle component, wherein, when a force is exerted upon the vehicle component, the vehicle component deforms by a different amount under the first stiffness than under the second stiffness, characterised in that the first mode corresponds to a first level of a menu hierarchy and the second mode corresponds to a second level of the menu hierarchy; and in that a stiffness manager increases or decreases the stiffness of a region in the surface of the vehicle component in response to navigation by a user determine that a software application has switched from a first mode to a second mode; and cause the one or more devices to modify the stiffness of the surface of the vehicle component from a first stiffness associated with the first mode to a second stiffness associated with the second mode while retaining a shape of the surface of the vehicle component, wherein, when a force is exerted upon the vehicle component, the vehicle component deforms by a different amount under the first stiffness than under the second stiffness, characterised in that the first mode corresponds to a first level of a menu hierarchy and the second mode corresponds to a second level of the menu hierarchy; and in that a stiffness manager increases or decreases the stiffness of a region in the surface of the vehicle component in response to navigation by a user hierarchy and the second mode corresponds to a second level of the menu hierarchy; and in that a stiffness manager increases or decreases the stiffness of a region in the surface of the vehicle component in response to navigation by a user based on a level within the menu hierarchy