Is the actual reason for getting rid of physical buttons because screens are actually easier to implement ?
European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls
461–470 of 660 posts
Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls
#462Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's weird that Tesla is being called out over the horn. In driver's ed they tell you to not to use your horn when you're annoyed at other drivers - only use it if there's an imminent danger to avoid a crash. But you better hope it works because if it doesn't, the airbag behind it explodes. ... I'm not sure Tesla improved the situation, but it definitely seems like the situation has room for improvement.
> In driver's ed they tell you to not to use your horn when you're annoyed at other drivers This is definitely not a cultural universal. Different countries have different practices. In some places the horn simply means “I’m here, check your mirrors”, in other places it means “You bastard!”, and in some other places it means “We are both stuck in traffic let’s make as much noise as possible to pass the time” > only u…
And in others is it simply infraction worth of fine to use it in cities or nearby buildings for anything except danger.
Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls
#463But the organization wants to see physical controls for turn signals, hazard lights, windshield wipers, the horn Are there really cars where the horn is not a physical button/ring on the steering wheel? IMHO the driving UX peaked in the 1960s, and was largely unchanged into the 2000s, until touch screens started taking over. Compare: https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads... https://images-stag.…
I've been driving for 15 years and only ever used my horn once.
You're making the world a better place. 100% sincere.
99% of time there is absolutely no reason to honk. People only do it because the button is there and they're safely insulated from getting punched.
Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls
#464> Now, Euro NCAP is not insisting on everything being its own button or switch. But the organization wants to see physical controls for turn signals, hazard lights, windshield wipers, the horn, and any SOS features This is much more reasonable than I assumed. Unlike seemingly most people here I have no problem whatsoever with fan controls or audio controls or whatever on the touchscreen, as long as it is responsive (…
But even then, how do you find the A/C or volume control on a touch screen without taking your eyes off the road, without accidentally touching something else? You just can't feel your way to the volume knob. Sure, you are a responsible driver and would only do that at a traffic light or other completely safe situation, but I don't know how many accidents touch controls in cars already caused with less responsible dr…
I don't change the AC while I'm in motion. All my cars have auto AC so I rarely touch them even as the temperature changes outside. I probably adjust the AC a handful of times a year. I'd rather not waste a lot of dashboard space on buttons that practically never get pressed, I'd rather have my map be even bigger and easier to quickly glance at and have more space to browse my media collection while stopped.
I don't understand how so many people have come across cars with seemingly terrible auto AC systems. Even my old 2000 Honda Accord had a competent auto AC system. I haven't had manual AC on any of my cars in decades. Whenever I rent a car it's always infuriating having to constantly muck with the AC system.
Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls
#465Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls
#466Earlier quoted context omitted.
But even then, how do you find the A/C or volume control on a touch screen without taking your eyes off the road, without accidentally touching something else? You just can't feel your way to the volume knob. Sure, you are a responsible driver and would only do that at a traffic light or other completely safe situation, but I don't know how many accidents touch controls in cars already caused with less responsible dr…
I don't change the AC while I'm in motion. All my cars have auto AC so I rarely touch them even as the temperature changes outside. I probably adjust the AC a handful of times a year. I'd rather not waste a lot of dashboard space on buttons that practically never get pressed, I'd rather have my map be even bigger and easier to quickly glance at and have more space to browse my media collection while stopped. I don't…
this is akin to it works on my PC so not an issue
Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls
#467Earlier quoted context omitted.
I ultimately decided against an MEB based model because the (steering wheel) UX felt almost unusable during my test drive. I partcularily struggeled with the cruise control swipe-click and hilariously the window switch. The car i ultimately settled on has worse overall infotainment software but physical controls which can be operated blindely and reliably. No wonder VW is already in the process of correcting this dis…
Doesn't Skoda have pretty sensible steering wheels still?
They do but I would say the design of the two scroll/click wheels has got worse in the last couple of years.
Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls
#468Earlier quoted context omitted.
No. Almost all cars except some concepts and prototypes have mechanical link between the steering wheel and the steering rack. Even if the link is augmented by a hydraulic or electronic booster. If a booster fails you have a chance of overpowering it, it's not that strong. A faulty steer-by-wire will swing you into the oncoming lane with no recourse.
I think the lack of redundancy is the issue. Redundant electrical connections can be very robust otherwise they wouldn't put them in F-35s.
Fighter jets are falling out of the sky quite often. Compare to airbus passanger jets instead.
Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls
#469Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think the issue with the horn is referring to the Tesla Model S. And specifically the horn button being capacitive co-located with the voice assistance and windscreen wiper buttons. Which in a safety situation was difficult to locate and press.
It's weird that Tesla is being called out over the horn. In driver's ed they tell you to not to use your horn when you're annoyed at other drivers - only use it if there's an imminent danger to avoid a crash. But you better hope it works because if it doesn't, the airbag behind it explodes. ... I'm not sure Tesla improved the situation, but it definitely seems like the situation has room for improvement.
Exactly - you need to have quick access the horn in a safety critical use case, so it shouldn't be a small button you have to find among other small buttons. You should be able to mash the center of the steering wheel.
>But you better hope it works because if it doesn't, the airbag behind it explodes.
... what? I had a car who's horn stopped working and the airbag didn't explode or go off.
Re: European crash tester says carmakers must bring back physical controls
#470Earlier quoted context omitted.
You mean you don't press the left one to stop, and the right one to go?
You don't feel the hydraulic feedback in the brake pedal (just the ABS buzzing), and gas pedals in many modern EFI vehicles feel more like foot-operated potentiometers than throttle linkages.
"Old" cars tend to have brake pedals where the pressure is used to judge how much force you are applying - find the point where it bites and then modulate the force. Many "modern" cars brake pretty much as soon as the pedal moves, and the amount of braking is determined by the position of the pedal, rather than the force applied at a certain point. I have no idea how they do this, but whenever I switch to a car with the "old" style, I always end up braking way too hard until my brain recalibrate.