COMPLETELY agree!!
I want my knobs and buttons!
“Physical buttons outperform touchscreens in new cars, test finds”
No Shiite, Ackmad.
Absolutely, positively no effing touch screens in any of my upcoming cars. At least my two vehicles have radio and A/C controls have knobs that control some functions - not all.
Not surprised. A 1998 Toyota Camry would have beaten even the Volvo.
I hated the lincolns when they had touch sensitive crap. They went back to knobs and buttons and it’s so much better.
As a mobile software developer I have to agree. For applications where looking at the screen to operate the device makes sense (I.e., a smartphone), touchscreens make sense. But when safety is paramount like keeping your eyes on the road, being able to operate a car’s functions by tactile feel of uniquely-shaped buttons is far more preferred.
It isn’t just cars though. For the same reason, video game consoles have excelled over touchscreen gaming for almost anything other than casual phone games because you need to keep your eyes on the screen. I don’t understand why manufacturers of almost everything insist that everything needs to be flat and devoid of any tactile feedback whatsoever. It’s insanely stupid, honestly.
One “advantage” of designing touch screens processes instead of pushbuttons is that the programmers can work remotely, because in order to make sure pushbutton processes work, you have to be in the same room as the pushbutton.
I could have done all these things in about one second in my 1966 VW sedan. Pull the lever to start the defroster, that’s it, and the damned thing probably wouldn’t give out any warm air for the next 20 minutes anyway. Didn’t have any of the other stuff, not even a radio.
Agree
Simple is better.
Likewise, keyboards vs. smartphones.
Touch screens in Automobiles to control features while driving are insane. I drove a family members GM truck and it took me forever to figure out a few things. Some of them like changing the volume were impossible without instruction. And I am convinced that some of the most simple tasks were not even an option. Circle the touch screen with your finger to change the volume? And try doing that without activating one of the other features. Change from XM to FM. That takes awhile. The few words that appear don’t seem to describe the action you want to do. So you have to just start pushing things and hope you find it somehow. Would they write the word “Band” on there.... No of course not. I never did find a way to input a station that was not on a preset. First it would do the auto scan which would stop on a non-station with static blaring. Then I found a manual option which would increment by single frequency every time you selected it. Hit that about 100 times to get where you want to go. No option to get a key pad to just type in the frequency you want. Meanwhile you risk driving off the road trying to simply play an FM station. I never figured out how to just turn the thing off either. Total insanity. No thanks. All of those tasks take just seconds with a traditional radio.
Touch screens get so full of fingerprint smudge you have to keep wiping them down with Windex just to make everything visible. Especially in sunlight.
Touch screens require sight. We used to be able to manage CDs, radio surfing, adjusting heat all while driving a manual transmission and pay attention to the road
It was less distracting than this demand for your sight attention. It’s so illogical to use sight controlled gadgets in a car
Stoopid
I can operate almost all the physical buttons and knobs in my car without looking at them. The only touchscreen stuff I do is set the destination on my phones GPS app and any stuff that I try to do on that while driving is extremely awkward.
I hate touch screens in cars. You have to LOOK at them. I can memorize where buttons and knobs are.
A 20 year old vehicle wins. Not sure how useful that is for current buyers. I seem to recall ages ago that having a tv screen in sight of the drivers eye was once considered illegal because of the distraction it would cause. Things change but not always for the better.
I have to rent cars two or three times a year. Every new car seems to have a dial instead of a shifter.
I understand my shifter in my truck is probably just as “automated” as the dial. But it feels more “right.”
The reason has to be money,one bundle of wiring going to one plug to the screen....I loved my 71’ International harvester pick up. Nothing but mechanical processes for every aspect of the vehicle. points and condensor for ignition / fuel was moved via a vacuum rather than a pump. I could go on forever. What I try to stick to now are the 1st generation Honda Odysseys, I have had good luck with them and its not overwhelmingly computerized .