Vehicle multi-mode vertical-split-screen display

A vehicle information system adapted to be received in a vehicle instrument panel comprising:

• a touchscreen display having an active surface including a first region characterized by a height greater than a width,
• a rear seat sensor that generates a first signal in response to the presence of a rear-seat vehicle occupant, and
• an interface in communication with the touchscreen display and the rear seat sensor, wherein the interface receives vehicle-specific information to be displayed in a first rendering characterized by a width greater than a height, and second application-specific information to be displayed in a second rendering,
• wherein in a first operating mode, the interface displays the first and second renderings in a vertically-stacked relation on the first region of the active surface of the touchscreen display, and in a second operating mode, the interface displays the second rendering over the entire first region of the active surface of the touchscreen display,
• wherein the interface is adapted to receive the first signal from the rear seat sensor and identify a need to blacken at least a portion of the touchscreen display in response to receiving the first signal, and
• wherein the interface does not display at least one of the first and second renderings in response to identifying the need to blacken at least a portion of the touchscreen display.