4 ms·

I had to stop reading when they dismissed analog dials. My car and every thing I own would be easier to use with analog dials.

deftturtle 9y ago
As a photographer, I totally agree. Much easier to change settings when they're physically on the body or lens.
rcthompson 9y ago
They also failed to mention the important role of car engine noise in alerting vision-impaired pedestrians to oncoming traffic.
- xtreme 9y ago
  You don't even have to be vision impaired to benefit from this. If you are walking along a narrow road or alleyway and a car approaches from behind, the noise will alert you and you can move accordingly.
  - rcthompson 9y ago
    Indeed, we can use an expansive definition of "vision-impaired" that includes people looking at their phones and people without 360-degree panoramic X-ray vision.
cc439 9y ago
I just wish designers would bring back good old analog knobs for radio/HVAC controls. "Automatic Climate Control" systems are bromcing increasingly common even on base model cars and it is slowly driving me insane. Cars are not houses, they do not have the insulation or internal volume needed to maintain a set temperature within 1-2 degrees, plus the enormous amount of glass compared to other surfaces turns them into a greenhouse even in cold but sunny weather. I don't want to play the guessing game of "does setting the temperature at 68 mean I'll get cold or lukewarm air right now?" All I'm left with is a choice between full cold (60F) and full hot (90F) if I'm not in the mood for the computer's guessing games. When I want cold air, I want cold air. When I want lukewarm air, I want lukewarm air. When I have to pick a set point, I get air that isn't right half the time its running. What's worse is that many systems, like that on my Nissan Altima, will override the A/C selector switch. That means I can't help but run the A/C compressor, wasting gas, when I could just be drawing in outside air when the temperature is just fine. Radios have been terrible for a long time now but the shift to user-unfriendly HVAC controls is the last straw for me.

deftturtle 9y ago

As a photographer, I totally agree. Much easier to change settings when they're physically on the body or lens.

rcthompson 9y ago

They also failed to mention the important role of car engine noise in alerting vision-impaired pedestrians to oncoming traffic.

xtreme 9y ago
You don't even have to be vision impaired to benefit from this. If you are walking along a narrow road or alleyway and a car approaches from behind, the noise will alert you and you can move accordingly.
- rcthompson 9y ago
  Indeed, we can use an expansive definition of "vision-impaired" that includes people looking at their phones and people without 360-degree panoramic X-ray vision.

cc439 9y ago

I just wish designers would bring back good old analog knobs for radio/HVAC controls. "Automatic Climate Control" systems are bromcing increasingly common even on base model cars and it is slowly driving me insane. Cars are not houses, they do not have the insulation or internal volume needed to maintain a set temperature within 1-2 degrees, plus the enormous amount of glass compared to other surfaces turns them into a greenhouse even in cold but sunny weather. I don't want to play the guessing game of "does setting the temperature at 68 mean I'll get cold or lukewarm air right now?" All I'm left with is a choice between full cold (60F) and full hot (90F) if I'm not in the mood for the computer's guessing games. When I want cold air, I want cold air. When I want lukewarm air, I want lukewarm air. When I have to pick a set point, I get air that isn't right half the time its running. What's worse is that many systems, like that on my Nissan Altima, will override the A/C selector switch. That means I can't help but run the A/C compressor, wasting gas, when I could just be drawing in outside air when the temperature is just fine. Radios have been terrible for a long time now but the shift to user-unfriendly HVAC controls is the last straw for me.