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Thanks! > throwing climate controls into the screen. Urgh, yes! I wouldn't mind so much if you could do it from the steering wheel controls. It already does a

Thanks! > throwing climate controls into the screen. Urgh, yes! I wouldn't mind so much if you could do it from the steering wheel controls. It already does a limited subset of phone, media and navigation that way, adding climate, which is only a few actions anyway, seems like it would fit right in to the UI there.

dangus 3y ago
I think the only consolation is that most cars that have these controls moved to the screen can just use voice controls or driver profiles to “set it and forget it.” I feel like a lot of people who have the basic “fan and blue/red” climate controls assume that people in Teslas are swiping all over the place while they drive to change climate settings, but in reality you step in and your driver profile loads your settings and you probably never have to touch the climate control. Then again I swear that everyone I know who owns fancier cars than me refuses to hit the “auto” button and use the feature they paid for.
- adhesive_wombat 3y ago
  That should work but I have never had the voice control correctly understand a command. Ever. I have tried repeatedly. I don't think I sound that wierd, but maybe I do. More likely I think it's just yet more terrible Volvo software LARPing as a car. All the software is completely pointless anyway because the UI is such shit that I just use a phone in a nice solid cradle anyway. Just like I do in the old car. I do change the climate controls quite a bit, but this is the UK where you're only ever 34 seconds from the windows steaming up and the temperature changing all the time. Maybe somewhere with a consistent climate it's easier.
  - LtWorf 3y ago
    According to any speech recognition software that has ever existed, I should be unable to interact with other people in person, because my speech is completely indistinguishable from random noise, it seems.
- jonhohle 3y ago
  Why does a control have to be on a screen to support voice commands? Most buttons and knobs are just digital inputs into the same infotainment system in current cars. If the knob or slider is stateful, there are still mechanized versions that can be controlled by software. I had a Kenwood receiver in the 90s that would mechanically turn the knob when I adjusted the volume from the remote and I know Yamaha had a similar feature around the same time. Studio mixing boards (for sound and light) have had software controlled sliders for decades as well. If a $200 stereo can include a servo coupled volume knob, a $30k+ car should have no issue. My Kia has awful rear control where you push a physical button to bring up an ok screen interface that doesn’t react to any physical buttons. Other models have the same physical interface (same buttons, same screen), but allow adjusting the on screen settings with physical buttons. I usually have a lot of kids in the back, and find having to muck with an awful on screen interface (not because it’s on screen, but because they require multiple steps to do things I should just be able to tap on) to be a safety issue.
- LtWorf 3y ago
  > never have to touch the climate control. Because you're always dressed the same? Like in winter if you go for a short trip you have winter jacket and you cook if the heating is too strong, but if you're going for a longer trip then you want your jacket off for comfort and you need an higher temperature :)
  - dangus 3y ago
    That’s where on most modern cars with these touchscreen systems you can just hit the voice control button on the steering wheel and say something like “set the temperature to XYZ.” I would still prefer some climate control buttons but I’m not sure their absence would be a dealbreaker for me depending on the car.
figassis 3y ago
I'm less comfortable with buttons on steering wheel. I'm left handed and I drive with that hand, leaving my right hand free to change gears or handle controls, which I do by feel, by knowing where each one is. Knobs that you can turn and push, and provide feedback are great for that.
- adhesive_wombat 3y ago
  I'm also left handed, but in the UK, that means that's the hand you have to take off the wheel to faff about in the centre console. I'd still rather everything was a physical control, but if they have to remove every traditional control, the least they can do is provide access to that function though the dashboard interface, which they already do for several functions. Just not that one.

dangus 3y ago

I think the only consolation is that most cars that have these controls moved to the screen can just use voice controls or driver profiles to “set it and forget it.” I feel like a lot of people who have the basic “fan and blue/red” climate controls assume that people in Teslas are swiping all over the place while they drive to change climate settings, but in reality you step in and your driver profile loads your settings and you probably never have to touch the climate control. Then again I swear that everyone I know who owns fancier cars than me refuses to hit the “auto” button and use the feature they paid for.

adhesive_wombat 3y ago
That should work but I have never had the voice control correctly understand a command. Ever. I have tried repeatedly. I don't think I sound that wierd, but maybe I do. More likely I think it's just yet more terrible Volvo software LARPing as a car. All the software is completely pointless anyway because the UI is such shit that I just use a phone in a nice solid cradle anyway. Just like I do in the old car. I do change the climate controls quite a bit, but this is the UK where you're only ever 34 seconds from the windows steaming up and the temperature changing all the time. Maybe somewhere with a consistent climate it's easier.
- LtWorf 3y ago
  According to any speech recognition software that has ever existed, I should be unable to interact with other people in person, because my speech is completely indistinguishable from random noise, it seems.
jonhohle 3y ago
Why does a control have to be on a screen to support voice commands? Most buttons and knobs are just digital inputs into the same infotainment system in current cars. If the knob or slider is stateful, there are still mechanized versions that can be controlled by software. I had a Kenwood receiver in the 90s that would mechanically turn the knob when I adjusted the volume from the remote and I know Yamaha had a similar feature around the same time. Studio mixing boards (for sound and light) have had software controlled sliders for decades as well. If a $200 stereo can include a servo coupled volume knob, a $30k+ car should have no issue. My Kia has awful rear control where you push a physical button to bring up an ok screen interface that doesn’t react to any physical buttons. Other models have the same physical interface (same buttons, same screen), but allow adjusting the on screen settings with physical buttons. I usually have a lot of kids in the back, and find having to muck with an awful on screen interface (not because it’s on screen, but because they require multiple steps to do things I should just be able to tap on) to be a safety issue.
LtWorf 3y ago
> never have to touch the climate control. Because you're always dressed the same? Like in winter if you go for a short trip you have winter jacket and you cook if the heating is too strong, but if you're going for a longer trip then you want your jacket off for comfort and you need an higher temperature :)
- dangus 3y ago
  That’s where on most modern cars with these touchscreen systems you can just hit the voice control button on the steering wheel and say something like “set the temperature to XYZ.” I would still prefer some climate control buttons but I’m not sure their absence would be a dealbreaker for me depending on the car.

figassis 3y ago

I'm less comfortable with buttons on steering wheel. I'm left handed and I drive with that hand, leaving my right hand free to change gears or handle controls, which I do by feel, by knowing where each one is. Knobs that you can turn and push, and provide feedback are great for that.

adhesive_wombat 3y ago
I'm also left handed, but in the UK, that means that's the hand you have to take off the wheel to faff about in the centre console. I'd still rather everything was a physical control, but if they have to remove every traditional control, the least they can do is provide access to that function though the dashboard interface, which they already do for several functions. Just not that one.