Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

slate.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

191–200 of 1001 posts

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#191

Post by wlesieutre »

ezfe wrote: post #143
wlesieutre wrote: post #38

Saw the Impreza’s 2024 redesign, apparently Subaru missed the memo. https://www.carscoops.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2024-Su... I recently test drove a Mazda, and while I’ve seen people online complain about their “commander knob” and lack of touch screen, I liked it pretty well. Screen up further on the dashboard is nice for glancing at maps.

It has physical volume and climate controls, including seat heaters - I don't mind this?

Personally, I'd rather have the rest of the HVAC controls on buttons/knobs (for that matter, I'd rather have the temperature on knobs instead of buttons), and the screen is really low. The top edge of a map on that screen is going to be under the bottom edge of where a more dashboard integrated screen would be.

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#192

Post by am44jnsf »

wlesieutre wrote: post #38

Saw the Impreza’s 2024 redesign, apparently Subaru missed the memo. https://www.carscoops.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2024-Su... I recently test drove a Mazda, and while I’ve seen people online complain about their “commander knob” and lack of touch screen, I liked it pretty well. Screen up further on the dashboard is nice for glancing at maps.

actually that seems fine. there's probably >30 physical buttons in that picture, not including the touch screen. and it has physically buttons for volume and climate. I'mn pretty happy for most other things to go into the screen.

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#193

Post by thfuran »

tshaddox wrote: post #182
zeedude wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s all about the bottom line. Touch screens consolidate a ton of otherwise expensive switch gear. Going back to physical knobs and buttons means going back to paying for engineering, assembling, testing, etc.

If it was just about the bottom line, and consumers actually cared enough to be willing to pay for physical controls, then why wouldn’t there be plenty of options on the market?

Designing two different sets of controls costs even more.

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#194

Post by ryantgtg »

emmelaich wrote: post #174
rdiddly wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

On the Tesla3, I use the on-wheel buttons for everything I need while driving. If I really need to i.e. hunt for a particular radio station I'll do it when stopped. I expected to dislike the screen but it's fine.

Same for me. I very rarely touch the screen while driving. And then after I do I’m like, “why didn’t I just a voice control for that?”

I was pretty worried about getting a tesla because of the screen/controls, and I spent months only considering other brands. But! No regrets.

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#195

Post by [deleted] »

tmh88j wrote: post #149
nashashmi wrote: post #87

remember the time when GM said it’s not going to include CarPlay in its vehicles? And how most of hn was in revolt? here comes News that says we should get rid of touchscreens, why is hn supporting this? (For the record, I hated touch screens in cars before that was a thing and I am OK with gm removing carplay.)

These are 2 separate issues you're discussing. > remember the time when GM said it’s not going to include CarPlay in its vehicles? And how most of hn was in revolt? Most OEM's made terrible infotainment software that is outdated, lacking features and often extremely sluggish and clunky to use. CarPlay and Android Auto are able to bring modern features OEM's can't seem to figure out, like Google Maps integration inste…

[deleted]

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#196

Post by sizzle »

andrewmcwatters wrote: post #189

I wouldn't mind touchscreens as long as these imbecile developers would strictly limit UI response time to under 16ms. In no world where you're barrelling 3,000+ lbs of mass at tens of miles an hour should you be distracted by some moronic app or subsystem failing to respond in time because it was written by under-experienced software "engineers." Any software running as a part of a motor vehicle should be federally…

Developers or cost optimizing MBAs? What developer would advocate for slower touchscreen response time at the expense of having a good UX if money was of no issue?

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#197

Post by SoftTalker »

wolverine876 wrote: post #59
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…

Too many buttons is a problem, but how about a few physical buttons whose labels are screens (high-res LCD, e-ink, whatever) and change according to the mode.

That’s still suboptimal but better, IF the labels never change. I’ll quickly learn that rear defrost is button 2 on screen 1 or whatever, but if some software update changes that I’ll be pissed.

I have an older Mercedes (2004) that is like this. There’s a screen, but it’s not touch. There is are columns of physical, pushable buttons at the left and right sides, and the labels appear on the screen next to the buttons.

Re: Automakers are starting to admit that drivers hate touchscreens

#198

Post by FridayoLeary »

cameldrv wrote: post #31
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…

A lot of small aircraft controls have moved to touchscreens, and they're terrible, especially in turbulence.

Isn't it the job of the faa to regulate every conceivable safety issue out of existence? Why did they let touchscreen controls through the net?
Post reply on HN