3 ms·

One thing that strikes me about this is the lack of tactile feedback. Even Apple is working hard to fix that aspect of the buttonless phone, but with cars it's

One thing that strikes me about this is the lack of tactile feedback. Even Apple is working hard to fix that aspect of the buttonless phone, but with cars it's even more important. I don't really want to be fussing with a touchscreen while operating anything moving fast enough to kill someone (or cause $$$ in damages). Don't get me wrong I love touchscreens, but they aren't perfect (sweaty hands, gloves, etc...)

nv-vn 9y ago
Totally agree. Looking at this car, I commend Tesla for going through with an insane idea like this, but personally I can't imagine having to deal with this every time I leave the house.
gfodor 9y ago
As noted in the article, the author speculates this is due to the fact that in the long run Tesla expects these vehicles to no longer require drivers. So the driver UI is transitional technology.
wnissen 9y ago
The idea that I would have to locate and press a graphical button to turn up the fan is pretty much a nightmare. I can do it without looking now. Even a quality voice-recognition interface would be lousy.
- amluto 9y ago
  Not on a Model S you can't. Which is really annoying when you're in one as a driver or a passenger.
  - greglindahl 9y ago
    The steering wheel controls on Model S can control the fan. I've noticed that passengers don't seem to have any problem using the touch screen.
m_mueller 9y ago
If you watch DeMuro's review, have a look at the two 3D-wheely-buttons on the steering wheel. I think those would work well as a tactile interface - the only problem now is the mode selection. Couldn't a software update give you the mode selection on the left-right click on one of those things, and then you have 3 degrees of freedom to adjust with the remaining knob functions? Not saying this would be a perfect solution, as you still (1) have no good indicator for the mode other than the center touchscreen and (2) need two actions instead of one to do anything. On the other hand it would now be a complete hands-on-steering wheel based approach, so the tradeoff could be worth it.
chiefofgxbxl 9y ago
When I test-drove the Model S, sitting there just made me ponder how texting and driving can be illegal, while giant iPad-like touch screens in cars are not. Aren't they the same thing, in effect? I don't want to have to risk my life or anyone else's just so I can adjust the volume or temperature controls when I could have done that safely via a physical knob without averting my eyes.
panic 9y ago
Yeah, we need to stop seeing touch screens as "futuristic". They're a way to save money, replacing a purpose-built physical interface with a one-size-fits-all screen which can be manufactured at scale and programmed cheaply. Some things (e.g. cell phones) wouldn't be possible to make if they included purpose-built physical components for everything you might want to do with them, but in general, touch screens are worse than the interfaces they replace. This article on the subject is a good read: http://worrydream.com/ABriefRantOnTheFutureOfInteractionDesign/ http://worrydream.com/ABriefRantOnTheFutureOfInteractionDesi...

nv-vn 9y ago

Totally agree. Looking at this car, I commend Tesla for going through with an insane idea like this, but personally I can't imagine having to deal with this every time I leave the house.

gfodor 9y ago

As noted in the article, the author speculates this is due to the fact that in the long run Tesla expects these vehicles to no longer require drivers. So the driver UI is transitional technology.

wnissen 9y ago

The idea that I would have to locate and press a graphical button to turn up the fan is pretty much a nightmare. I can do it without looking now. Even a quality voice-recognition interface would be lousy.

amluto 9y ago
Not on a Model S you can't. Which is really annoying when you're in one as a driver or a passenger.
- greglindahl 9y ago
  The steering wheel controls on Model S can control the fan. I've noticed that passengers don't seem to have any problem using the touch screen.

m_mueller 9y ago

If you watch DeMuro's review, have a look at the two 3D-wheely-buttons on the steering wheel. I think those would work well as a tactile interface - the only problem now is the mode selection. Couldn't a software update give you the mode selection on the left-right click on one of those things, and then you have 3 degrees of freedom to adjust with the remaining knob functions? Not saying this would be a perfect solution, as you still (1) have no good indicator for the mode other than the center touchscreen and (2) need two actions instead of one to do anything. On the other hand it would now be a complete hands-on-steering wheel based approach, so the tradeoff could be worth it.

chiefofgxbxl 9y ago

When I test-drove the Model S, sitting there just made me ponder how texting and driving can be illegal, while giant iPad-like touch screens in cars are not. Aren't they the same thing, in effect? I don't want to have to risk my life or anyone else's just so I can adjust the volume or temperature controls when I could have done that safely via a physical knob without averting my eyes.

panic 9y ago

Yeah, we need to stop seeing touch screens as "futuristic". They're a way to save money, replacing a purpose-built physical interface with a one-size-fits-all screen which can be manufactured at scale and programmed cheaply. Some things (e.g. cell phones) wouldn't be possible to make if they included purpose-built physical components for everything you might want to do with them, but in general, touch screens are worse than the interfaces they replace. This article on the subject is a good read: http://worrydream.com/ABriefRantOnTheFutureOfInteractionDesign/ http://worrydream.com/ABriefRantOnTheFutureOfInteractionDesi...