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Why are we putting touch screens in cars while ignoring the fact that touchscreens are inherently more distracting. We're having the wrong conversations about c

Why are we putting touch screens in cars while ignoring the fact that touchscreens are inherently more distracting. We're having the wrong conversations about car interfaces.

jonas21 6y ago
One reason is that having a screen is now required in the U.S. in order to comply with backup collision safety regulations. It doesn't necessarily have to support touch, but once you've dedicated all that space and cost to putting in a screen, making it a touchscreen becomes a lot more appealing.
- kevin_thibedeau 6y ago
  The true reason is that it's cheaper than mechanical switches, gauges, and wires.
  - toomuchtodo 6y ago
    You can’t software update mechanical switches and gauges. I think it’s reasonable to pick a vehicle that can receive over the air updates improving the user experience during the period of time when you own it versus one frozen in time with static mechanical controls.
    - Silhouette 6y ago
      I think it’s reasonable to pick a vehicle that can receive over the air updates improving the user experience during the period of time when you own it versus one frozen in time with static mechanical controls. And who gets to decide whether a change is "improving the user experience"? Hint: It's usually not the user in this scenario. I'm just fine with having a car where I get to choose whether I like how it works before I buy it and then it stays that way and doesn't give me any unwelcome surprises. I doubt I am alone in this. Magically self-updating cars are about as good an idea as magically self-updating operating systems, with the added wrinkle that if something is broken or confusing after the update, people could actually die.
    - gruturo 6y ago
      Updates are great. An update improving the ECU, fixing a bug, ensuring compliance with emission controls, correcting a cruise control anomaly after tapping the brakes, upgrading maps database, etc etc etc, are all very welcome. I’d still like my car stereo, climate, beams, indicators and wipers controls to remain physical and be mapped on whatever new software. I will still change station and volume, I will still signal left and right turns (with the possible exception of BMW owners), I will still do a tactile search of my AC, find the big knob, rotate it a notch or 2, without keeping eyes off the road.

Why are we putting touch screens in cars while ignoring the fact that touchscreens are inherently more distracting. We're having the wrong conversations about car interfaces.

jonas21 6y ago

One reason is that having a screen is now required in the U.S. in order to comply with backup collision safety regulations. It doesn't necessarily have to support touch, but once you've dedicated all that space and cost to putting in a screen, making it a touchscreen becomes a lot more appealing.

kevin_thibedeau 6y ago
The true reason is that it's cheaper than mechanical switches, gauges, and wires.
- toomuchtodo 6y ago
  You can’t software update mechanical switches and gauges. I think it’s reasonable to pick a vehicle that can receive over the air updates improving the user experience during the period of time when you own it versus one frozen in time with static mechanical controls.
  - Silhouette 6y ago
    I think it’s reasonable to pick a vehicle that can receive over the air updates improving the user experience during the period of time when you own it versus one frozen in time with static mechanical controls. And who gets to decide whether a change is "improving the user experience"? Hint: It's usually not the user in this scenario. I'm just fine with having a car where I get to choose whether I like how it works before I buy it and then it stays that way and doesn't give me any unwelcome surprises. I doubt I am alone in this. Magically self-updating cars are about as good an idea as magically self-updating operating systems, with the added wrinkle that if something is broken or confusing after the update, people could actually die.
  - gruturo 6y ago
    Updates are great. An update improving the ECU, fixing a bug, ensuring compliance with emission controls, correcting a cruise control anomaly after tapping the brakes, upgrading maps database, etc etc etc, are all very welcome. I’d still like my car stereo, climate, beams, indicators and wipers controls to remain physical and be mapped on whatever new software. I will still change station and volume, I will still signal left and right turns (with the possible exception of BMW owners), I will still do a tactile search of my AC, find the big knob, rotate it a notch or 2, without keeping eyes off the road.