I don’t necessarily have an issue with the screens. The problems are:
Commonly accessed features like choosing a media source, setting environmental controls, or even lighting, are buried several “clicks” deep. These need to be surface-level and need zero distraction from driving to interact with.
The “touch” part of touch-screen often sucks. Every car I’ve driven with touch interface requires too long of a press and/or doesn’t pick up the press. So you have to look away from driving to repeatedly mash a touch control. That’s not safe.
The touch area is often too small, such as arrow buttons to raise or lower volume, skip a song, or change temperature. Not only do they not register the touch, they’re too small. Double whammy for distraction.
and theres no tactile feed back. you have no idea where your finger is on the screen, So you have to take your eyes off the road to futz with a stupid menu in a stupid interface.
a button/knob? You can just reach, feel, and operate without ever taking your eyes or attention off the road.
This is why, at the ripe old age of mid-thirties, I just drive with one finger on the scan radio button and stop when I hear a song I like. About a year ago we purchased our first car with a touch screen and I will not adapt.
I don’t necessarily have an issue with the screens. The problems are:
Commonly accessed features like choosing a media source, setting environmental controls, or even lighting, are buried several “clicks” deep. These need to be surface-level and need zero distraction from driving to interact with.
The “touch” part of touch-screen often sucks. Every car I’ve driven with touch interface requires too long of a press and/or doesn’t pick up the press. So you have to look away from driving to repeatedly mash a touch control. That’s not safe.
The touch area is often too small, such as arrow buttons to raise or lower volume, skip a song, or change temperature. Not only do they not register the touch, they’re too small. Double whammy for distraction.
and theres no tactile feed back. you have no idea where your finger is on the screen, So you have to take your eyes off the road to futz with a stupid menu in a stupid interface.
a button/knob? You can just reach, feel, and operate without ever taking your eyes or attention off the road.
This is why, at the ripe old age of mid-thirties, I just drive with one finger on the scan radio button and stop when I hear a song I like. About a year ago we purchased our first car with a touch screen and I will not adapt.