Vehicle information system with steering wheel controller

A steering wheel mounted for rotation in a vehicle of the type including a primary display disposed in a position to be viewed by a driver of the vehicle for displaying informational data to the driver in multiple, sequential, interactive presentations, said steering wheel comprising:

• a hub supported for rotation about a steering axis;
• a rim;
• at least one spoke interconnecting said hub and said rim;
• a manual controller for changing information data and initiating vehicle system changes in response to a manual input from the driver;
• said controller including a scroll wheel rotatably carried about a scroll axis, said scroll axis being fixed relative to said hub, rim and spoke so that driver manipulation of the informational data through the multiple, sequential, interactive presentations can be accomplished without releasing the driver's grip of said steering wheel;
• and a haptic actuator for creating selective resistance to rotation of said scroll wheel about said scroll axis.

A method for a driver to change and interact with informational data presented on a primary display in a vehicle without removing his hands from the steering wheel, said method comprising the steps of:

• supporting a steering wheel in the vehicle for rotation about a steering axis;
• displaying informational data to the driver in multiple, sequential, interactive presentations on the primary display;
• manually changing the informational data while the driver's hands are able to clutch the steering wheel;
• said step of manually changing the informational data including rotating a scroll wheel about a scroll axis that is fixed relative to the steering wheel;
• and wherein said step of manually changing the informational data includes creating selective resistance to rotation of the scroll wheel about the scroll axis.