3 ms·

> Car makers in Europe are being encouraged to stop using touchscreens for basic functions like turn signals and wipers Is it SO terribly expensive to put a st

> Car makers in Europe are being encouraged to stop using touchscreens for basic functions like turn signals and wipers Is it SO terribly expensive to put a stalk on the steering wheel ? (Serious question. I'm asking.)

Pet_Ant 3y ago
I mean "terribly" no, but imagine you can take that cost of materials, and eliminate those jobs by going 100% digital, not lower the price of the vehicle, and then pass on the savings to your shareholders? Might even be worth a golden parachute.
- euroderf 3y ago
  Welcome to Driving Distractions 'R' Us
Propelloni 3y ago
Whatwhatwhat? There are cars where you have to use a touch screen to indicate turns? I tried several search terms and I cannot find a single example. If somebody has a link, it would be much appreciated.
- wlesieutre 3y ago
  Not screens, but moved from a stalk to buttons on the front of the wheel. Ferrari has done this before too, but people are really talking about Tesla.
  - Propelloni 3y ago
    Thanks, that helped me to find an article or two. Tesla's solution looks... okay to me? Turn left, push left hand button on the steering wheel. Turn right, push right hand button on the steering wheel. Of course, this setup has a few fail cases the conventional solutions have not, but that is true for Tesla's steering yoke as a whole. Both seem to require more dexterity for no clear advantage, but they are also not the end of the world.
    - wlesieutre 3y ago
      Personally I think it’s a bad idea. When the wheel is turned you can’t as easily keep track of how to signal left vs right. Sure, most of the time you’re going straight when you need to use the turn signal, but not all the time.
afp14 3y ago
It's a matter of scale as far as expense. If my company produces 100,000 cars, and the stalk assembly/parts cost $50, now I've saved 50*100000=5 million dollars a year. To me it's clever in the same way that all-wheel drive users existing brakes to manipulate wheel-power delivery versus a complicated (and expensive) 4WD transmission. Clever, yes, but impossible to use in a tactile manner and thus dangerous because it forces eyes-off-road ( a simple steering wheel button might save money and still afford tactile aspects)

Pet_Ant 3y ago

I mean "terribly" no, but imagine you can take that cost of materials, and eliminate those jobs by going 100% digital, not lower the price of the vehicle, and then pass on the savings to your shareholders? Might even be worth a golden parachute.

euroderf 3y ago
Welcome to Driving Distractions 'R' Us

Propelloni 3y ago

Whatwhatwhat? There are cars where you have to use a touch screen to indicate turns? I tried several search terms and I cannot find a single example. If somebody has a link, it would be much appreciated.

wlesieutre 3y ago
Not screens, but moved from a stalk to buttons on the front of the wheel. Ferrari has done this before too, but people are really talking about Tesla.
- Propelloni 3y ago
  Thanks, that helped me to find an article or two. Tesla's solution looks... okay to me? Turn left, push left hand button on the steering wheel. Turn right, push right hand button on the steering wheel. Of course, this setup has a few fail cases the conventional solutions have not, but that is true for Tesla's steering yoke as a whole. Both seem to require more dexterity for no clear advantage, but they are also not the end of the world.
  - wlesieutre 3y ago
    Personally I think it’s a bad idea. When the wheel is turned you can’t as easily keep track of how to signal left vs right. Sure, most of the time you’re going straight when you need to use the turn signal, but not all the time.

afp14 3y ago

It's a matter of scale as far as expense. If my company produces 100,000 cars, and the stalk assembly/parts cost $50, now I've saved 50*100000=5 million dollars a year. To me it's clever in the same way that all-wheel drive users existing brakes to manipulate wheel-power delivery versus a complicated (and expensive) 4WD transmission. Clever, yes, but impossible to use in a tactile manner and thus dangerous because it forces eyes-off-road ( a simple steering wheel button might save money and still afford tactile aspects)