Patent ID: 8626387

Claim:
A method of displaying information to an occupant of a vehicle, the method comprising: detecting the presence of a hand of the occupant within a preselected distance of a first physical control device using a first sensor at or near the first physical control device, where the first physical control device is used to modify operation of a first vehicle system; detecting the presence of the hand of the occupant within a preselected distance of a second physical control device using a second sensor at or near the second physical control device, where the second physical control device is used to modify operation of a second vehicle system; sending a signal from the first sensor or second sensor to a processor in the vehicle when presence of the hand is detected within the preselected distance of the first physical control device or the preselected distance of the second physical control device; based on the signal, determining information of interest associated with the first vehicle system or the second vehicle system to display on a display device; displaying the information of interest on the display device; and modifying the information of interest being displayed on the display device based on occupant manipulation of the first physical control device or the second physical control device.