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The subtle art of designing physical controls for cars

theturnsignalblog.com

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Re: The subtle art of designing physical controls for cars

#231

Post by tekknik »

amluto wrote: post #230
tekknik wrote: post #228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On a Tesla you do exactly the same, push the stalk back to center. It’s a little confusing at first but so is one pedal driving.

What generation Tesla? On the originals, sure. The stock physically latches away from the center position when the signal is on. Works great. On some of the newest ones, there is a left signal button and a right signal button. I think that, if you are signaling right and push the left button and you don’t lose the race against the automatic end of signaling, then you end up not signaling. This is both modal and racy.…

It’s the generation before juniper, or the latest currently shipping of the model y.

I tick it to the left it stays on until i tick it back to the center. it doesn’t stay lock to the left until i complete the turn, this is a key difference.

it’s really a nonissue. you have enough time to cancel a lane change with FSD running.

Re: The subtle art of designing physical controls for cars

#232

Post by mhb »

CRConrad wrote: post #89
mhb wrote: post #2

1. Cars should have physical controls. 2. The smart knob is a clever device. 3? Smart knob somehow addresses cars no longer having physical controls.

2. The smart knob is a physical control. So 1 + 2 = 3. HTH!

Thanks for the insight, but a multi-function physical control that requires looking at to know what mode it's in doesn't seem like the panacea to which TFA seems to be alluding.

Re: The subtle art of designing physical controls for cars

#234

Post by nottorp »

tekknik wrote: post #231
amluto wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What generation Tesla? On the originals, sure. The stock physically latches away from the center position when the signal is on. Works great. On some of the newest ones, there is a left signal button and a right signal button. I think that, if you are signaling right and push the left button and you don’t lose the race against the automatic end of signaling, then you end up not signaling. This is both modal and racy.…

It’s the generation before juniper, or the latest currently shipping of the model y. I tick it to the left it stays on until i tick it back to the center. it doesn’t stay lock to the left until i complete the turn, this is a key difference. it’s really a nonissue. you have enough time to cancel a lane change with FSD running.

I have no idea what exact generation of Tesla model 3 I've tried. It had a stalk not buttons but the stalk wasn't staying down or up, you pulled it and it went back to the center (or even didn't really move, not sure any more) and the turn signal stayed on for as long as the "AI" decided.

And if you train the "AI" only on rectangular grid cities, that's a problem.

Re: The subtle art of designing physical controls for cars

#235

Post by nottorp »

tekknik wrote: post #229
yial wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From my experience: BMW , Subaru, and Mazda the auto settings are worthless / not functional. Audi is okay. The best I’ve found is Infiniti, which 2013 ish on, the auto settings are perfect 99% of the time. (This of course means, you do have to adjust the temperature setting, but once set the fans spinning up and down are perfect along with the heat moderation. ) BMW could be user error on my part. The longest I’ve u…

When people get hyperbolic and state that AC controls are pure agony it shows a disconnect with reality and it’s hard to take that person serious.

You could consider the noise as part of the feedback :)

If I hear the a/c more than 5 minutes after starting the car, it means it's on window defog.

Or it's over 30 outside and I'm driving in full sun. What climate change?

Re: The subtle art of designing physical controls for cars

#236

Post by account42 »

arkh wrote: post #185
hgomersall wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't need any of that. You just need a knob that ranges from make as cold as you can to make as hot as you can and a reasonable fine grain in between. I can find the right set point because I'm literally sat next to the knob and I'm a better control system than anything they can come up with.

And I'm a lazy fucker: I want to set a temperature range and then not bother until I sell the car. Under the range? Heat it. Over? Freeze it. But a range, not a single point. So if the temperature is between min and max, the AC stays off.

Do you wear the same amount of clothing all year around? Never excerted yourself or been in a blizzard before entering your car where you might want to get back to your ideal body temperature quickly?

Re: The subtle art of designing physical controls for cars

#237

Post by sklargh »

cormorant wrote: post #195
sklargh wrote: post #183

A bit late but for those of you who still really like physical controls , want a family capable vehicle (I’ve done 3 nights with two under five) and something off the beaten path it’s hard to go wrong with the Audi A4 allroad wagon. Absolutely fantastic suspension and pretty quick for a family wagon. Midrange package gets you adaptive cruise control and all the other safety stuff. Mild hybrid.

Not for long. Next model year it's being replaced by this: https://cdn.motor1.com/images/mgl/L3kENm/s1/audi-a5-avant-20... (via: https://www.reddit.com/r/Audi/comments/1ggr4ox/does_the_2025... )

Ugh. Ick. I fear soon I’ll just have to buy commercial vehicles to get an AC dial.

Re: The subtle art of designing physical controls for cars

#238

Post by 0_____0 »

hinkley wrote: post #227
0_____0 wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've used it for 3D CAD and seen it on The Expanse as part of the bridge crash couch props on the Martian vessels. They also used an older model of Black Diamond headlamp for the space suit lights in early seasons. There's a balance to be struck here - too much reuse of modern objects and it pulls you out of the action. I think the Expanse did it well.

Seen a lot of borosilicate glass from Bodum with the logo scratched off or covered up too.

It's funny how you mostly just notice the objects you're familiar with. If you look at the prop auctions you see all kinds of "regular objects" integrated into props and sets. Sometimes the really obvious ones mean that particular props have to be shot from certain angles (you don't generally see the bottom of a crash couch for a reason!)

Re: The subtle art of designing physical controls for cars

#239

Post by tekknik »

nottorp wrote: post #234
tekknik wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s the generation before juniper, or the latest currently shipping of the model y. I tick it to the left it stays on until i tick it back to the center. it doesn’t stay lock to the left until i complete the turn, this is a key difference. it’s really a nonissue. you have enough time to cancel a lane change with FSD running.

I have no idea what exact generation of Tesla model 3 I've tried. It had a stalk not buttons but the stalk wasn't staying down or up, you pulled it and it went back to the center (or even didn't really move, not sure any more) and the turn signal stayed on for as long as the "AI" decided. And if you train the "AI" only on rectangular grid cities, that's a problem.

Yes the stalk doesn’t stay ticked in the direction of the signal.

There are 4 “positions” on the stalk, two towards the left and two towards the right. On each side there is one all the way at the end of the throw, and one about 1/3 into the throw. You push it to the 1/3 mark to cancel the signal.

Re: The subtle art of designing physical controls for cars

#240

Post by darshan-gohil »

I appreciate a designer who prioritizes haptics and the personal touch in controls over relying solely on touchscreens. While touchscreens give devices a modern and multifunctional feel, I prefer some basic features to be handled using a handheld hybrid combo. The team has done a fantastic job creating a ready solution for this. Hopefully, some Japanese companies get this imbibed in their models, especially Toyota and Maruti Suzuki!
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