Mazda is purging touchscreens from its vehicles • Hacker News Board

Re: Mazda is purging touchscreens from its vehicles

#661

Post by riantogo » Mon, Jun 17, 2019, 5:36 PM UTC

marapuru wrote: post #47

Praise to Mazda for making this decision. As a User Experience Professional, I was never able to grasp the true user's need for touch screens in cars. For years I have been working on product interfaces (not just apps). Many studies I conducted actually told me that people favored analog controls over digital touch screens controls. It gives you tactile feedback, making it accessible for anyone with sense of touch. >…

Here is a counter anecdote. Recently I moved from BMW (buttons and dials) to Tesla Model 3 (basically a big iPad bolted on to the dash). Both me, my wife, bunch of friends with Model 3, all vastly prefer the touch screen experience.

Re: Mazda is purging touchscreens from its vehicles

#662

Post by gerbilly » Mon, Jun 17, 2019, 5:38 PM UTC

filoleg wrote: post #652

justinpombrio wrote: post #634

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not up for debate; we have evidence that it's dangerous. The NHTSA says: "The available research indicates that cell phone use while driving, whether it is a hands-free or hand-held device, degrades a driver’s performance. The driver is more likely to miss key visual and audio cues needed to avoid a crash. Hand-held devices may be slightly worse, but hands-free devices are not risk-free." Though it doesn't link…

>It's not up for debate; we have evidence that it's dangerous. Just like talking to other people in the car or doing anything else other than driving. I know that I will take a driver getting their messages read out to them over a driver who takes their eyes off the road and glances at the phone. Good is the enemy of the perfect, and I would rather take an attainable good over an unattainable perfect.

> Just like talking to other people in the car

No that's not true, talking to other people int he car is not associated with reduced safety.

Probably because the other people in the car are also partially watching the road.

Re: Mazda is purging touchscreens from its vehicles

#663

Post by giaour » Mon, Jun 17, 2019, 5:39 PM UTC

riantogo wrote: post #661

marapuru wrote: post #47

Praise to Mazda for making this decision. As a User Experience Professional, I was never able to grasp the true user's need for touch screens in cars. For years I have been working on product interfaces (not just apps). Many studies I conducted actually told me that people favored analog controls over digital touch screens controls. It gives you tactile feedback, making it accessible for anyone with sense of touch. >…

Here is a counter anecdote. Recently I moved from BMW (buttons and dials) to Tesla Model 3 (basically a big iPad bolted on to the dash). Both me, my wife, bunch of friends with Model 3, all vastly prefer the touch screen experience.

Counter-counter point: I much prefer the BMW interface because I can find the volume and AC controls without taking my eyes off the road.

Re: Mazda is purging touchscreens from its vehicles

#664

Post by jackcviers3 » Mon, Jun 17, 2019, 5:40 PM UTC

marapuru wrote: post #47

Praise to Mazda for making this decision. As a User Experience Professional, I was never able to grasp the true user's need for touch screens in cars. For years I have been working on product interfaces (not just apps). Many studies I conducted actually told me that people favored analog controls over digital touch screens controls. It gives you tactile feedback, making it accessible for anyone with sense of touch. >…

I vastly prefer my touchscreen to analog controls - how the heck would I control my map and nav and radio without an interface that can change at need?

Re: Mazda is purging touchscreens from its vehicles

#665

Post by shosko » Mon, Jun 17, 2019, 5:43 PM UTC

I still drive a Saab with the night panel option, which turns off all distracting lights and messages at night. Of course there is no screen either.

Driving should be an exercise in focus with the tools to help me do so, even in the proliferation of options (climate, entertainment, etc).

The 17-inch screen in the Model S is just absurd to me. I dont want it. I dont want screens.

Re: Mazda is purging touchscreens from its vehicles

#666

Post by jefurii » Mon, Jun 17, 2019, 5:43 PM UTC

pwg wrote: post #578

marapuru wrote: post #47

Praise to Mazda for making this decision. As a User Experience Professional, I was never able to grasp the true user's need for touch screens in cars. For years I have been working on product interfaces (not just apps). Many studies I conducted actually told me that people favored analog controls over digital touch screens controls. It gives you tactile feedback, making it accessible for anyone with sense of touch. >…

> As a User Experience Professional, I was never able to grasp the true user's need for touch screens in cars. You are viewing the 'need' from the end user perspective. That is likely not the driving force that is causing touch screen proliferation. The likely driving force that is causing it is the manufacturers BOM costs. A single, rectangular, touch screen, that can swallow up a bunch of different knobs and button…

I totally understand the business case for touchscreens in cars. It's all about reducing cost to the business, but this usually comes at the expense of safety, which is a totally unacceptable tradeoff.

Re: Mazda is purging touchscreens from its vehicles

#667

Post by CrazyStat » Mon, Jun 17, 2019, 5:45 PM UTC

giaour wrote: post #663

riantogo wrote: post #661

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here is a counter anecdote. Recently I moved from BMW (buttons and dials) to Tesla Model 3 (basically a big iPad bolted on to the dash). Both me, my wife, bunch of friends with Model 3, all vastly prefer the touch screen experience.

Counter-counter point: I much prefer the BMW interface because I can find the volume and AC controls without taking my eyes off the road.

Good thing Tesla has both of those on the steering wheel so that the driver can find them without taking their eyes off the road or their hands off the wheel.

Meantime the passenger can enjoy the touchscreen.

Re: Mazda is purging touchscreens from its vehicles

#668

Post by mirimir » Mon, Jun 17, 2019, 5:47 PM UTC

marapuru wrote: post #47

Praise to Mazda for making this decision. As a User Experience Professional, I was never able to grasp the true user's need for touch screens in cars. For years I have been working on product interfaces (not just apps). Many studies I conducted actually told me that people favored analog controls over digital touch screens controls. It gives you tactile feedback, making it accessible for anyone with sense of touch. >…

I've never driven a car with a touchscreen. And I wouldn't want one for basic controls. Once I become familiar with old-school control locations, I don't need to look away from the road to make adjustments.

And damn, I got pulled over once for suspicion of drunk driving, in my wife's car. In the process of finding some knob, I had drifted out of the lane.

Anyway, heads-up is a great alternative. I look forward to lots of cool AR.

Re: Mazda is purging touchscreens from its vehicles

#669

Post by 0xffff2 » Mon, Jun 17, 2019, 5:50 PM UTC

DanTheManPR wrote: post #434

coleca wrote: post #283

Not ready to give Mazda any praise for their infotainment systems. I leased a 2019 CX-5 Grand Touring Reserve a couple months ago. Had I known how bad Mazda’s UX was I would have leased something else. First off their system takes an eternity to cold boot. If I’m making a quick run to the store or dropping the kids off at a friends house the system isn’t available for most of the ride. While it’s booting, the radio r…

I would suggest taking it to the dealer, what you're describing sounds abnormal. Mine boots in about 10 seconds. I do definitely find it annoying that it defaults to playing whatever audio source you last used when you start up your car. Whenever I have a passenger, I have a slight moment of panic as I try to remember what's about to play through the speakers, and whether it's appropriate for them to hear.

>I do definitely find it annoying that it defaults to playing whatever audio source you last used when you start up your car.

As opposed to what? Hasn't that been the default behavior since cars have had radios in them?

Re: Mazda is purging touchscreens from its vehicles

#670

Post by dawnerd » Mon, Jun 17, 2019, 5:51 PM UTC

I rented an Audi a4 that had Carplay but only allowed buttons to navigate. It was really frustrating. Trying to move the map around ended up being more dangerous than just swiping the damn screen.