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Its an interesting UI case. Everything happens so fast, there is no time for modality so every function needs to be directly accessible at the top layer. You en

Its an interesting UI case. Everything happens so fast, there is no time for modality so every function needs to be directly accessible at the top layer. You end up with a steering-wheel full of single purpose buttons and knobs. It kind of feels like the old days when you'd get "mission control syndrome" because the controls were tied to actual relays that actuated functions so they could only do one thing. In this case, its entirely justified.

robmcm 13y ago
I imagine that the drivers can't look at the wheel when they are using it, so everything has to be distinguishable by touch. This happened only the other day to Maldonado: http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/24231/9271393/pastor-maldonado-takes-blame-for-mistakes-after-crash-follows-earlier-spin-in-china http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/24231/9271393/pastor-maldo... >Maldonado confirmed he had been looking down at the steering wheel at the time and simply took a wrong turn: "I was on the steering wheel. Too much to do in the out laps. After out laps it's okay."
- jonathansizz 13y ago
  It's difficult to draw conclusions using Maldonado, since he's a pay driver with a well-established reputation for incompetence. Lotus are getting what they deserve for hiring him for his money over more skilled drivers who could have helped move the team forward.
  - CWuestefeld 13y ago
    While I'm not his biggest fan, I don't think you can fairly call him incompetent. Anybody with a win and a pole position next to their name can't be considered incompetent.
    - jonathansizz 12y ago
      If you say so. In today's Spanish grand prix he wrote off his car during qualifying, and then smashed into Gutierrez during the race, receiving more penalties, and adding to his already extensive record of crashing.
Serow225 13y ago
There are some modal controls for secondary functions, like the aptly-named MFRS (multi-function rotary switch) but by and large they are single purpose as you pointed out. In terms of UI takeaways, I noticed that they did a pretty good job of laying out functionally-opposite buttons symmetrically on each side of the wheel, so your if your right thumb hits param+ then your left thumb will hit param-, to mistake-proof operations and emphasize muscle memory while reducing cognitive load. Also the nominal positions of the rotary switches are consistently colored white, for similar reasons.

robmcm 13y ago

I imagine that the drivers can't look at the wheel when they are using it, so everything has to be distinguishable by touch. This happened only the other day to Maldonado: http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/24231/9271393/pastor-maldonado-takes-blame-for-mistakes-after-crash-follows-earlier-spin-in-china http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/24231/9271393/pastor-maldo... >Maldonado confirmed he had been looking down at the steering wheel at the time and simply took a wrong turn: "I was on the steering wheel. Too much to do in the out laps. After out laps it's okay."

jonathansizz 13y ago
It's difficult to draw conclusions using Maldonado, since he's a pay driver with a well-established reputation for incompetence. Lotus are getting what they deserve for hiring him for his money over more skilled drivers who could have helped move the team forward.
- CWuestefeld 13y ago
  While I'm not his biggest fan, I don't think you can fairly call him incompetent. Anybody with a win and a pole position next to their name can't be considered incompetent.
  - jonathansizz 12y ago
    If you say so. In today's Spanish grand prix he wrote off his car during qualifying, and then smashed into Gutierrez during the race, receiving more penalties, and adding to his already extensive record of crashing.

Serow225 13y ago

There are some modal controls for secondary functions, like the aptly-named MFRS (multi-function rotary switch) but by and large they are single purpose as you pointed out. In terms of UI takeaways, I noticed that they did a pretty good job of laying out functionally-opposite buttons symmetrically on each side of the wheel, so your if your right thumb hits param+ then your left thumb will hit param-, to mistake-proof operations and emphasize muscle memory while reducing cognitive load. Also the nominal positions of the rotary switches are consistently colored white, for similar reasons.