Return to physical switches

[begreen]

This is about a pet peeve of mine, digital controls for primary functions in a car. I've always felt is really dangerous to have touch screen controls that require one takes eyes off the road for basic functions. Now they've quantified how large this distration is. At highway speeds one can average over a half of a mile travel to change climate control settings, or change a radio station. Finally, this problem is getting industry attention.

https://www.autoblog.com/features/an-industry-first-test-showed-just-how-horrendously-distracting-touchscreens-are

The good news is the industry is listening. VW/Audi are going back to physical switches in the next generation. China has passed a mandate that all new cars made there must have physical switches for key functions by July 2027. Key controls include:

• Lighting: Turn signals, hazard warning lights (double flashers), horn
• Gear shifting: P/R/N/D (screen-only shifting is prohibited)
• Driver assistance: Activation switch for the advanced driver assistance system
• Safety/emergency: Windshield wipers, defroster/defogger, power windows, Child/Accident Emergency Call System (AECS), and electric vehicle power off switch

China to require physical controls for vehicle functions, reducing reliance on central control screen

This new requirement is expected to be mandatory for only newly manufactured vehicles starting July 1, 2027.

carnewschina.com

 

[stoveliker]

Yes, the Chinese going back was mentioned here some months ago.
I agree it's stoopid and unsafe to have to deal with the menus on a screen in a car.
I can operate my car with my eyes closed... Well, the sound and AC etc...

 

[begreen]

The best designs have tactile clues in the switch design.

 

[gthomas785]

My Bolt has buttons to turn on the defogger, change the temperature and fan. But if you want to change the airflow direction (face, feet, windshield) you have to go into a menu. It's maddening. Seems like China's list of key functions does not explicity include the heat and AC (only defogger) which are some of the most commonly adjusted while driving.

 

[begreen]

My Bolt has buttons to turn on the defogger, change the temperature and fan. But if you want to change the airflow direction (face, feet, windshield) you have to go into a menu. It's maddening. Seems like China's list of key functions does not explicity include the heat and AC (only defogger) which are some of the most commonly adjusted while driving.

Yes. This can be a dangerous situation during a cloudburst while driving at freeway speeds when one needs some quick defogging.

I can operate my car with my eyes closed... Well, the sound and AC etc...

Yes. I like our EV, but miss those physical switches. Fortunately, the auto setting is pretty good at sensing increased humidity on the windshield. The radio otoh can be a pain. Same in my older van with a touch screen. Tuning stations in a new area while on a trip is not very safe if one doesn't have a copilot.

 

[gthomas785]

Yes. This can be a dangerous situation during a cloudburst while driving at freeway speeds when one needs some quick defogging.

Not even that. Just a quick adjustment of the climate to improve my comfort turns from a relatively safe inconsequential action to a dangerous one. Even when it's not an emergency. They can't really expect everyone to pull over before they flip through a menu to adjust the heat.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Driving a 2012 Jeep GC, it has many modules. But, all of the inputs ect are switches. A big gear shifter connected somehow to the transmission. The brake and gas pedals connected where they should be. The old school thought was to make it a simple as possible, and easy to fix. The Landcruisers I saw being used on mine sites underground would be the best, but not legal for the road.

 

[bigealta]

Yup Also Radio and climate control need to be switches easily reached and be intuitive.

I don't use either when i get rental cars at the airport because when i get in late night i have no time or patience to try to figure out how to turn them on off etc.

It's very distracting and dangerous in an unfamiliar car. 1/2 the time it takes me cussing at the car for 5 minutes just to get the headlights on. And i'm pretty good mechanically so that makes it even more frustrating.

 

[EbS-P]

Seems like Chinas rule will mean Teslas can be sold as is.

The voice controls in the new Teslas are pretty good. Not much you need to search in the menu to find. Just tell it what you want.

Turn signals as touch buttons were weird. Swiping the screen is dumb. Especially since the up direction on screen is drive and down is reverse, backwards of the tesla/Mercedes stalks