Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens • Hacker News Board

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#161

Post by hunter2_ » Thu, Apr 27, 2023, 2:03 AM UTC

kyralis wrote: post #157

hunter2_ wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It'll be interesting to see how Android Auto / Apple Car Play adopt physical controls, if at all. I guess at a basic level a rotary encoder could emulate a "tab" key when rotated and an "enter" key when pushed (keyboard support already exists in the mobile OS, of course). Until then, at least they have great voice input.

Apple's Car Play has supported that from the beginning, since many of the first adopter cars didn't actually have touch screens, just screens.

Ah! Of all the cars I've owned (1) and rented (3+) that have it, all have had only touch screen input to it, as far as I noticed. Brb while I see if the Tune knob in my VW does anything in AA...

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#162

Post by logicalmonster » Thu, Apr 27, 2023, 2:04 AM UTC

thirdhaf wrote: post #97

logicalmonster wrote: post #69

For the life of me I can't find the link, but there was an awesome HN or Reddit post a few years back where a designer tried to design a touchscreen experience that might work for cars that takes into account that drivers can't focus on the screen. It's been years since I've seen it so I probably don't remember the exact details, but I think it worked by the system working based on gestures wherever the drivers' hand…

Was it this one perhaps? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7261003

Thank you. That seems to be it. I don't think it's perfect, but it seems like a hell of a good improvement on the touch interfaces car companies try and come up with today that takes into account that a driver wants to use muscle memory and not stare at the screen.

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#163

Post by NoZebra120vClip » Thu, Apr 27, 2023, 2:04 AM UTC

hunter2_ wrote: post #131

rdiddly wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah seems like physical controls for input, screen for output is the sweet spot.

It'll be interesting to see how Android Auto / Apple Car Play adopt physical controls, if at all. I guess at a basic level a rotary encoder could emulate a "tab" key when rotated and an "enter" key when pushed (keyboard support already exists in the mobile OS, of course). Until then, at least they have great voice input.

I'm not exactly sure how it works, but mobile OS accessibility layers provide support for "switch" devices which are used by disabled people. So I don't know if this is limited to on/off switches, or variable knobs as well, but this may be the same sort of principle that would guide a car-based OS interface with physical controls on the dash.

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#164

Post by p0ckets » Thu, Apr 27, 2023, 2:04 AM UTC

hunter2_ wrote: post #131

rdiddly wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah seems like physical controls for input, screen for output is the sweet spot.

It'll be interesting to see how Android Auto / Apple Car Play adopt physical controls, if at all. I guess at a basic level a rotary encoder could emulate a "tab" key when rotated and an "enter" key when pushed (keyboard support already exists in the mobile OS, of course). Until then, at least they have great voice input.

That's basically what Audi has (at least in some older models): it's a scroll wheel that also works as a d-pad. It works pretty well with Android Auto (no experience with Apple Car Play). Mazda also has a similar-looking interface.

But it seems those two companies are moving towards touchscreens due to market demand.

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#165

Post by natch » Thu, Apr 27, 2023, 2:04 AM UTC

stevage wrote: post #20

ojkelly wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I’m fully engaged with a device a touch screen is great, especially when that device needs to do more things than you could reasonably make physical controls for. But when I’m driving and need to adjust something, I don’t want to disconnect with driving to dive into a touch screen. A physical control, in the same location means muscle memory can take over. And as we learnt decades ago, the controls themselves need…

Also, with a physical control, I find that I can glance over to locate the control, return my eyes to the road, then reach over blindly to touch it. That doesn't work with a touchscreen at all.

Works for me.

1. Reach over, grasp the screen under the target area using muscle memory.

Screen is strong as hell, you could put your full weight on it and it wouldn’t budge.

2. While continuing to hold the edge of the screen, move thumb to hover over suspected target area using muscle memory.

3. Glance and tap in one moment.

Done.

Not that I ever need to do this. Pretty much everything I need to do has a button. (And this in a car that the internet geniuses including here on HN are convinced does not have buttons).

If steps 1, 2, and 3 sounded distracting or hard, see again the part where I said “not that I ever need to do this” and why.

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#166

Post by TacticalCoder » Thu, Apr 27, 2023, 2:05 AM UTC

bedobi wrote: post #89

Audi have some very recent cars that are completely screen free - they have a screen which completely retracts into the dashboard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_F2dpj5Kas&t=42s and if you have analog gauges too, there are no screens. (except the tiny one between the gauges which doesn't count imo) They're also completely piano black free. Best car interior maybe ever. Thread here https://old.reddit.com/r/Audi/comm…

Also the VW group, but on the high-end luxury side, the rotating display (three positions) of the Bentley Continental GT (that car shares its platform with the Porsche Panamera, also from the VW group, but the Panamera doesn't have that rotating display):

https://youtu.be/JZNGniDpJ-s

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#167

Post by stronglikedan » Thu, Apr 27, 2023, 2:05 AM UTC

I love my trackpad in my Acura. I was hesitant at first, but after getting used to it, I think it's a great compromise.

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#168

Post by zamnos » Thu, Apr 27, 2023, 2:06 AM UTC

tricksforfree wrote: post #140

Question for car owners with massive screens in the console who live in rural areas: Does the ambient interior light from the screen + dashboard overpower your ability to see the road at night?

Depends on exactly which model from which manufacturer. Cadillac has night vision on some of their vehicles, far superior to straining to see in the dark.

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#169

Post by stronglikedan » Thu, Apr 27, 2023, 2:07 AM UTC

DecoPerson wrote: post #153

Spinny-dial-based input, with the dial located just behind the shifter (just in front of where the cupholders usually are), is the best input method developed for cars so far. The forces the UI to be a flat list in terms of navigation (rather than a 2d-space-filling UX mess). And being a flat 1d list, it encourages the list be short, which means more submenus, which is good! If menus are consistent, you can mostly co…

Acura's trackpad is nice, too. My previous one had a dial that also moved directionally, as well as pushed in, and that worked well.

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#170

Post by NoZebra120vClip » Thu, Apr 27, 2023, 2:07 AM UTC

dsfyu404ed wrote: post #37

exabrial wrote: post #17

Pro Tip: So do ER Doctors and Insurance Companies. What would be best is something along the lines of a hybrid aircraft controls. See F/A-18 Hornet cockpit. Basically tactile buttons around the perimeter (maybe just side or bottom for consumer), but the options can change. Also for consumers, touchscreen should be a value-add to tactile controls, with hardware buttons as primary. So you could touch-scroll with a fing…

Touch screens are great for stuff that needs to be cleaned though so ER doctors are probably stuck with them.

I believe what the OP meant by hatred is that ER doctors and Insurance Companies need to clean up after auto accidents caused by drivers who were distracted by mandatory touchscreen use (which is ironic when mobile phone use, and distracted driving in general, is outlawed in many jurisdictions.)

I am sure ER doctors hate to use touchscreens as well, but that's for another thread.