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Tesla bows to pressure, stops allowing drivers to play video games while driving

theguardian.com

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Re: Tesla bows to pressure, stops allowing drivers to play video games while driving

#81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why, why do they even offer games on the move if they (correctly) have such watchdogs? Makes me think of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TCeR_SWZM0 , just adjust Chandler's line to "0-60 in 3 seconds, top speed of 160mph, 500 mile range!"

It supposed to be for road trips and the like, your passenger could play a game to occupy themselves, and once FSD is out of beta (if it will ever be) the driver too.

Hmm, what's next, a coffee machine, a burger dispenser? Those are road trips essentials too. Tesla should just concentrate on the car, everyone has a damn gadget (phone, Nintendo Switch, etc) for games...

Re: Tesla bows to pressure, stops allowing drivers to play video games while driving

#82
post #70
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They presumable thinking was that autopilot/fsd would be driving the car so the driver could play games. Arrgh. It was a feature for the passenger to play games while preserving the driving UI. Absolutely no one intended for this to be used by drivers. There isn't even any evidence of a driver being caught doing this. The coverage is basically clickbait, and you appear to have bought it exactly as it was intended.…

Even if that was the case, the screen is the primary information and control interface for the driver, and should not be displaying any focus drawing, non-driving related information.

Define focus-drawing, though? Radio doesn't count? Full-screen climate control? Album art? Web browser? Pairing a bluetooth device? Hell, even having a glove box on the other side of the cabin is a distraction.

The car is filled with distractions already, and we accept that it's broadly safe even if some drivers are distracted[1]. Why is this one in particular such a big deal for everyone, except for the somewhat obvious reason that it's new and Tesla did it.

[1] To be fair: by far the most fatal distraction in the vehicle isn't even the device UI, it's the phone in their pocket.

Re: Tesla bows to pressure, stops allowing drivers to play video games while driving

#83
A nice example of what should have been a non story, blown out of proportion. Obviously not Teslas business whether or not people use their touchscreen while driving. But make enough noise and anything can be an issue. Also, news headlines should really be "tesla adopts path of least resistance" because obviously there's nothing to discuss here, but some driving regulator doesn't understand their job and tesla isn't interested in the headache. Also, i can't think of a more minor potential distraction while driving then this.

Re: Tesla bows to pressure, stops allowing drivers to play video games while driving

#85

This is the kind of situation where there should not be any action described in any other terms than the hammer coming down hard . Saying there was pressure just makes it sound like regulators are completely impotent.

Given what Tesla has said publicly about their cars/software and the response of regulators, I would say impotent is pretty accurate.

Re: Tesla bows to pressure, stops allowing drivers to play video games while driving

#86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You phone doesn't have to survive 125C for ten years of continual vibration.

It doesn't. If you can't provide an adequate user experience free of large input delays, you should have never installed a touchscreen in the first place. Infotainment systems have gotten less bad, but I haven't seen notable advancement in reducing time spent with eyes off of the road the way a physical button or knob does.

They install touchscreens because they think people want them. The cars sell, because the only choice is touchscreens, and their decisions are validated. Rinse and repeat.

Re: Tesla bows to pressure, stops allowing drivers to play video games while driving

#87
post #51

I get it, but this reminds me of how my car doesn't allow my wife (in the passenger seat) to set up bluetooth pairing while I am driving. Pretty inconvenient during road trips to have to pull off the highway, because the car doesn't trust that it's the passenger working the center console...

Road trips? Plural? How many times have you had to pair your bluetooth to your car...

Every time we rent a car.

Re: Tesla bows to pressure, stops allowing drivers to play video games while driving

#88
post #82
post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if that was the case, the screen is the primary information and control interface for the driver, and should not be displaying any focus drawing, non-driving related information.

Define focus-drawing, though? Radio doesn't count? Full-screen climate control? Album art? Web browser? Pairing a bluetooth device? Hell, even having a glove box on the other side of the cabin is a distraction. The car is filled with distractions already, and we accept that it's broadly safe even if some drivers are distracted[1]. Why is this one in particular such a big deal for everyone, except for the somewhat obv…

Something moving with high frequency in the peripheral vision would be mighty distracting. I did not know Teslas allow you to browse Web while driving, this also looks very distracting, the other things you listed - not much.

Re: Tesla bows to pressure, stops allowing drivers to play video games while driving

#89
I think what they did was the same as Waze. It warns against playing while driving and asks you to confirm that you’re the passenger. In other words, the software treats you as an adult. Someone who lease correct me if that is not how it was implemented. I’ve never tried to play a game while driving, for obvious reasons.

If we need software to kindergarten us against endangering ourselves and others, we have much bigger problems as a society.

Out of the same philosophy, Tesla allows you to set Autopilot speed slightly above the applicable speed limit. You can cry out that that’s illegal. But then again, try to drive exactly the speed limit in real world situations. You might actually be creating more dangerous situations than you avoid. Hence Tesla treats you as the driver. It’s your ship, and you are the captain. The tech is just there to assist you.

Re: Tesla bows to pressure, stops allowing drivers to play video games while driving

#90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I tried playing a game while in FSD and the cabin camera is super sensitive when a game is open, when I reach my hand for the screen the car starts beeping and flashing warnings for me to pay attention to the road.

Why, why do they even offer games on the move if they (correctly) have such watchdogs? Makes me think of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TCeR_SWZM0 , just adjust Chandler's line to "0-60 in 3 seconds, top speed of 160mph, 500 mile range!"

I appreciate being respected as a responsible adult. Why would you want some company thinking what’s best or you? I assume you also try to be a responsible driver.
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