Non-touchscreen interfaces, My Bad Trends of 2018!
Discussion
Is the decade for common layout for infotainment systems, touchscreen and a few analog controls for radio volume and the HVAC system over?
The Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, and Mazda are using features like dial, track pad and mouse to control their systems. Not only are these setups confusing and cumbersome, they’re also impossible to use when you have just a few seconds to spare at a stoplight. Touchscreen and knobs. How hard is that?
The Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, and Mazda are using features like dial, track pad and mouse to control their systems. Not only are these setups confusing and cumbersome, they’re also impossible to use when you have just a few seconds to spare at a stoplight. Touchscreen and knobs. How hard is that?
That's what put me off the Giulia
Fair enough it's a knob to control the interface, we've been using all types of controllers since the advent of electricity, most things in the home still use buttons and knobs, we (nearly) all use a mouse to control our PCs, and even in this day and age touchscreen is only one input method, but that in turn is what I'm going to use to control my phone via Android Auto, so that doesn't work for me.
Fair enough it's a knob to control the interface, we've been using all types of controllers since the advent of electricity, most things in the home still use buttons and knobs, we (nearly) all use a mouse to control our PCs, and even in this day and age touchscreen is only one input method, but that in turn is what I'm going to use to control my phone via Android Auto, so that doesn't work for me.
Edited by jfire on Thursday 11th October 15:47
For me the click wheels and shortcut buttons, not so much touchpads (I like those for postcodes), are the perfect way to interact with a cars infotainment/navigation system.
It seems ungainly at first but it's just learning an input technique.
Yes touchscreens can be quicker to learn but I sort of find myself distracted by them and actually in a moving car it can be quite frustrating to hit the right icon. Plus finger prints, I hate seeing smeary fingerprints on stuff.
Just personal choice I suppose, but I don't think non-touchscreen interfaces are bad trends.
It seems ungainly at first but it's just learning an input technique.
Yes touchscreens can be quicker to learn but I sort of find myself distracted by them and actually in a moving car it can be quite frustrating to hit the right icon. Plus finger prints, I hate seeing smeary fingerprints on stuff.
Just personal choice I suppose, but I don't think non-touchscreen interfaces are bad trends.
Extending ones arm to touch the screen while on a bumpy road isn't the most straightforward process.
Voice is also be an input option on most new cars anyway but something I've not really grown accustomed to except for requesting music etc. But then I wouldn't really want to send a text message while driving anyway.
Voice is also be an input option on most new cars anyway but something I've not really grown accustomed to except for requesting music etc. But then I wouldn't really want to send a text message while driving anyway.
I have very mild Parkinson's disease which manifests itself by a shake in the hands. I find it very hard to use a touch-screen because I often do a double tap due to the shake and that can be a different command. Something like a knob is ideal for me because I can feel it without looking at it and I can steady my hand by holding the knob while I adjust it.
jfire said:
That's what put me off the Giulia
Conversely that's a small part of the reason I love my Giulia. I hate touch-screens having had one in my last car - almost impossible to use on anything less than a glass-smooth road. The wheel/mouse arrangement becomes intuitive very quickly.generationx said:
jfire said:
That's what put me off the Giulia
Conversely that's a small part of the reason I love my Giulia. I hate touch-screens having had one in my last car - almost impossible to use on anything less than a glass-smooth road. The wheel/mouse arrangement becomes intuitive very quickly.The interface in the merc (control wheel) appears well thought through, and can be operated with minimal effort while driving.
The leaf has a touch screen and is borderline unusable.
The lotus has an old school head unit in front of the passenger, and is literally unusable. And inaudible.
The leaf has a touch screen and is borderline unusable.
The lotus has an old school head unit in front of the passenger, and is literally unusable. And inaudible.
jfire said:
Do you connect your phone and does it function like you were operating the phone's touchscreen but with a mouse?
My phone connects via Bluetooth, I access it on the screen's menu system like I do music, navigation, the radio, etc. All one button = easy. To answer a call - button on the steering wheel. Much easier than trying to touch a screen icon while doing motorway speeds.Edited by generationx on Friday 12th October 09:48
Edited by generationx on Friday 12th October 09:49
I had a Mazda 6 which was touchscreen and had a clicky dial thing down by the gearstick. I found the dial much much easier to use on the move as you had some feedback, whereas trying to press a touchscreen while driving is nowhere near as easy. I don't get touchscreens when driving, especially the massive ones which control everything, including heating. Is using a a touchscreen car interface any less distracting then using a touchscreen mobile strapped to the dash?.
Touchscreens are an abomination in terms of ease of use.
A good old button that does a single job for the high use controls is absolutely perfect. Rotary dials etc are absolutely fine for the less often used things. It's relatively intuitive and is fairly immune to the bumps and bashes you get when driving along our less than glass smooth highways.
Touchscreens are being pushed as they are quite simply easier and cheaper to develop for the manufacturers. In terms of use, they are a step backwards from what is actually fit for purpose. Fine for a phone, rubbish in this application.
A good old button that does a single job for the high use controls is absolutely perfect. Rotary dials etc are absolutely fine for the less often used things. It's relatively intuitive and is fairly immune to the bumps and bashes you get when driving along our less than glass smooth highways.
Touchscreens are being pushed as they are quite simply easier and cheaper to develop for the manufacturers. In terms of use, they are a step backwards from what is actually fit for purpose. Fine for a phone, rubbish in this application.
Touchscreens by their very nature, need to be looked at to be activated. You can feel knobs (ooeeer) without taking your eyes of the road. Proper switches with defined positions are the way to go.
My A class Merc has a nice big display but everything is controlled & selected from a spinny knob. Added bonus no greasy fingerprints on the screen.
My A class Merc has a nice big display but everything is controlled & selected from a spinny knob. Added bonus no greasy fingerprints on the screen.
Touchscreens are an annoyance; They do have their utility whilst stationary or to carry out "complex" input operations, such as typing, however, they are useless in a moving vehicle, due to their inherent lack of any form of feedback or way to steady your hand.
Generally, unless the button is extremely large, one has to look at the screen directly as you make and verify the action of your input, which can be incredibly annoying when pared with the small but noticeable delays as applications load etc.
My preference would be for a mix of a tactile input for simple operations, such as the aforementioned knob / buttons, and a touchscreen enabling complex interactions whilst stationary.
Generally, unless the button is extremely large, one has to look at the screen directly as you make and verify the action of your input, which can be incredibly annoying when pared with the small but noticeable delays as applications load etc.
My preference would be for a mix of a tactile input for simple operations, such as the aforementioned knob / buttons, and a touchscreen enabling complex interactions whilst stationary.
Touchscreens are difficult to use in a moving car for three reasons:
1) Vibration - you need to brace your hand on something, and even then it can be hard. I've avoided touchscreen running and cycling devices for this exact reason. In a car it's not much better.
2) Distance. You need to reach forward to get a finger on the display, which isn't practical or safe whilst driving. BMW, Audi and Merc controls are based near the gearstick, where you can reach without moving at all.
3) Eyes on the road. Many commands in BMWs, Mercs etc can be done without looking at the screen. With a touchscreen you have to look.
1) Vibration - you need to brace your hand on something, and even then it can be hard. I've avoided touchscreen running and cycling devices for this exact reason. In a car it's not much better.
2) Distance. You need to reach forward to get a finger on the display, which isn't practical or safe whilst driving. BMW, Audi and Merc controls are based near the gearstick, where you can reach without moving at all.
3) Eyes on the road. Many commands in BMWs, Mercs etc can be done without looking at the screen. With a touchscreen you have to look.
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