4 ms·

This is one of those things you didn't realize could be better until someone did it. My Model 3 has everything set on auto. If the car can't see, it'll turn th

This is one of those things you didn't realize could be better until someone did it. My Model 3 has everything set on auto. If the car can't see, it'll turn the lights on. If it doesn't see an incoming car, it'll turn on the high beams. After a year of driving it as my only car, I needed a second car and got a cheap ICE clunker. Having to manage lights is a PITA and basically a failure of design.

homonculus1 7y ago
Turning your headlights on is a PITA? Convenience tech has completely wussified us.
- omni 7y ago
  Leaving safety critical functionality to chance is bad engineering, it's not some ubermensch societal design or whatever you're going for here.
  - homonculus1 7y ago
    To chance? You flick a dial at the same time you put the car in gear. How complicated is that?
    - deleted 7y ago
      [deleted]
- ska 7y ago
  Existence proof: Every time you see a car driving at dusk (or later) without lights on is an instance of this technology failing. Beyond that, a significant percentage of all drivers cannot or will not manage high beams correctly.
  - MS90 7y ago
    That's not the technology failing, that's the users failing. Technological failure would imply that manually turning your lights on and off somehow breaks them or renders them otherwise nonfunctional, or the lever/switch itself breaks. If someone got in a car and tried to put it in drive without starting it, would that be a technological failure of ignition switches?
    - ska 7y ago
      You are correct that I was a bit sloppy with terminology, but the point is it is not a user failure, but a failure in design. If your users consistently fail to execute an action with your product correctly, it is a failure of the product, not the user. You can mitigate sometimes with training, but if a better design is available, that's usually the best course.
scott_s 7y ago
I had a similar experience when I got a 2018 Honda Accord. I used to rarely ever take advantage of my brights, but now they're on regularly because my car automatically determines when they can be used.
- sjcoles 7y ago
  It doesn't do that great of a job though. I consistently get blinded by newer cars with automatic headlights when they are very far away due to rolling hills. The car can't see me but I sure as freaking hell can see its headlights burning straight into my fucking retinas. I've had instances of them not detecting my smaller, older, car properly even when straight on. It's great to get blinded on a 2 lane 55mph road at night.

homonculus1 7y ago

Turning your headlights on is a PITA? Convenience tech has completely wussified us.

omni 7y ago
Leaving safety critical functionality to chance is bad engineering, it's not some ubermensch societal design or whatever you're going for here.
- homonculus1 7y ago
  To chance? You flick a dial at the same time you put the car in gear. How complicated is that?
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
ska 7y ago
Existence proof: Every time you see a car driving at dusk (or later) without lights on is an instance of this technology failing. Beyond that, a significant percentage of all drivers cannot or will not manage high beams correctly.
- MS90 7y ago
  That's not the technology failing, that's the users failing. Technological failure would imply that manually turning your lights on and off somehow breaks them or renders them otherwise nonfunctional, or the lever/switch itself breaks. If someone got in a car and tried to put it in drive without starting it, would that be a technological failure of ignition switches?
  - ska 7y ago
    You are correct that I was a bit sloppy with terminology, but the point is it is not a user failure, but a failure in design. If your users consistently fail to execute an action with your product correctly, it is a failure of the product, not the user. You can mitigate sometimes with training, but if a better design is available, that's usually the best course.

scott_s 7y ago

I had a similar experience when I got a 2018 Honda Accord. I used to rarely ever take advantage of my brights, but now they're on regularly because my car automatically determines when they can be used.

sjcoles 7y ago
It doesn't do that great of a job though. I consistently get blinded by newer cars with automatic headlights when they are very far away due to rolling hills. The car can't see me but I sure as freaking hell can see its headlights burning straight into my fucking retinas. I've had instances of them not detecting my smaller, older, car properly even when straight on. It's great to get blinded on a 2 lane 55mph road at night.