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I think that either style interface has its place and can co-exist with the other. For example, in a car, I would prefer to have physical controls for audio and

I think that either style interface has its place and can co-exist with the other. For example, in a car, I would prefer to have physical controls for audio and anything mechanical (ie HVAC, wipers, ON/OFF,etc). However, when it comes to preferential attributes, vehicle/user/passenger related settings or diagnostic data/feedback, I would much rather prefer the touchscreen. This goes for things like instrument panel, monitoring tire pressure, situational awareness (sensors/cams), lights on/off settings, etc.

nucleardog 5y ago
This is more or less my car. Volume and tuning are knobs and steering wheel controls. HVAC is all controlled through physical knobs and switches for the heated seats and reported on a small (non-touch) display on top of the dash. The touchscreen is for maps and more detailed radio/audio controls. Configuration and preferences are configured through whichever system it's relevant to. Driving settings are configured on a small screen in the gauge cluster. Configuring the small display that shows the time/date and vehicle metrics (boost, tires, etc) is done via a small button near that screen. Configuring the radio/maps/etc is done via the touchscreen with the radio/maps on it. It sounds kind of complicated in the way I'm describing it, but it's pretty intuitive in practice. "I want to configure that thing" = "Use the buttons on that thing".
- pupdogg 5y ago
  Please puts us all onto the make and model of your car. Seems like such capabilities are a rare breed nowadays!
  - nucleardog 5y ago
    Mine's a 2016 Subaru WRX. Cars101 has posted a lot of photos of the interior: http://www.cars101.com/subaru/wrxsti/wrxsti2016photos2.html http://www.cars101.com/subaru/wrxsti/wrxsti2016photos2.html I don't know that it was so much a conscious design choice as that Subaru, as a smaller manufacturer, tends to buy/develop a bunch of disparate systems rather than some single integrated monstrosity. Though looking at interior photos of some of the newer vehicles (Impreza, Forester, etc) they all look to have more or less continued the trend and same general design of still having some basic physical buttons and switches. And yeah, it's great. Along with having all the pertinent information basically in my line of sight without looking away from the road, I can operate most of the important features of the car without having to look away because they're physical buttons and knobs I can feel for.

nucleardog 5y ago

This is more or less my car. Volume and tuning are knobs and steering wheel controls. HVAC is all controlled through physical knobs and switches for the heated seats and reported on a small (non-touch) display on top of the dash. The touchscreen is for maps and more detailed radio/audio controls. Configuration and preferences are configured through whichever system it's relevant to. Driving settings are configured on a small screen in the gauge cluster. Configuring the small display that shows the time/date and vehicle metrics (boost, tires, etc) is done via a small button near that screen. Configuring the radio/maps/etc is done via the touchscreen with the radio/maps on it. It sounds kind of complicated in the way I'm describing it, but it's pretty intuitive in practice. "I want to configure that thing" = "Use the buttons on that thing".

pupdogg 5y ago
Please puts us all onto the make and model of your car. Seems like such capabilities are a rare breed nowadays!
- nucleardog 5y ago
  Mine's a 2016 Subaru WRX. Cars101 has posted a lot of photos of the interior: http://www.cars101.com/subaru/wrxsti/wrxsti2016photos2.html http://www.cars101.com/subaru/wrxsti/wrxsti2016photos2.html I don't know that it was so much a conscious design choice as that Subaru, as a smaller manufacturer, tends to buy/develop a bunch of disparate systems rather than some single integrated monstrosity. Though looking at interior photos of some of the newer vehicles (Impreza, Forester, etc) they all look to have more or less continued the trend and same general design of still having some basic physical buttons and switches. And yeah, it's great. Along with having all the pertinent information basically in my line of sight without looking away from the road, I can operate most of the important features of the car without having to look away because they're physical buttons and knobs I can feel for.