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The passenger doesn't need to keep their eyes on the road, though. It seems to me like the benefits of being able to cram a million more things (as needed) into

The passenger doesn't need to keep their eyes on the road, though. It seems to me like the benefits of being able to cram a million more things (as needed) into a screen outweighs the downsides of having to glance at a screen if you're not familiar with it. I prefer touch controls both as a driver and a passenger. I even use a Halo keyboard (effectively just another screen, with no "real" buttons) on my laptop. It takes some getting used to, but eventually becomes second nature -- and then you open up huge new areas of functionality that aren't possible with physical buttons and knobs.

WalterBright 6y ago
I don't want a million controls on my car.
- Koshkin 6y ago
  You have to give it to modern car tech though. This is how one would start Ford Model T: While out of the driver’s seat, the driver would need to pull the choke, located near the right front fender. At the same time, the driver had to turn the crank lever one-quarter turn clockwise to prime the carburetor. The crank lever was located beneath the radiator at the front of the auto. Next, the driver had to jump into the car, insert the key into the ignition, and turn it. Immediately, the driver had to move the timing stalk up and move the throttle stalk down to set the idle correctly. Pulling the hand brake back would place the car into neutral. The next step necessitated getting back out of the car to turn the hand crank a half-turn. This turn of the crank would actually start the engine. http://www.thebenzbin.com/early-car-starters http://www.thebenzbin.com/early-car-starters (I do miss the ability to jump-start a car using a crank lever.)
  - cryptonector 6y ago
    But you never had to hand crank a car while driving it down the road.
cryptonector 6y ago
> The passenger doesn't need to keep their eyes on the road, though. What if you're driving solo?
- drusepth 6y ago
  You can use the physical controls on the steering wheel if you don't want to use the screen. This subthread is in response to GP saying "but the passenger still has to use the screen".

WalterBright 6y ago

I don't want a million controls on my car.

Koshkin 6y ago
You have to give it to modern car tech though. This is how one would start Ford Model T: While out of the driver’s seat, the driver would need to pull the choke, located near the right front fender. At the same time, the driver had to turn the crank lever one-quarter turn clockwise to prime the carburetor. The crank lever was located beneath the radiator at the front of the auto. Next, the driver had to jump into the car, insert the key into the ignition, and turn it. Immediately, the driver had to move the timing stalk up and move the throttle stalk down to set the idle correctly. Pulling the hand brake back would place the car into neutral. The next step necessitated getting back out of the car to turn the hand crank a half-turn. This turn of the crank would actually start the engine. http://www.thebenzbin.com/early-car-starters http://www.thebenzbin.com/early-car-starters (I do miss the ability to jump-start a car using a crank lever.)
- cryptonector 6y ago
  But you never had to hand crank a car while driving it down the road.

cryptonector 6y ago

> The passenger doesn't need to keep their eyes on the road, though. What if you're driving solo?

drusepth 6y ago
You can use the physical controls on the steering wheel if you don't want to use the screen. This subthread is in response to GP saying "but the passenger still has to use the screen".