Computer screens on car dashboards.

[jerrytug]

Strikes me that we're 'splitting hairs' here.

'We'?

 

[Bullet2012]

i will ask Jeeves what he finds the more superior control method.

 

[indy4x]

So if you have a car with climate control which is operated by physical buttons or a knob you don't ever look at the display or knob to see what temperature you're setting it to?

Nope, not in my case anyway

Have had a Jag iPace for 2 years, it's a company lease car and the touchscreen in the centre of the dash is a complete PITA. Much prefer tactile buttons and as you learn where they are you can use them without taking your eyes off the road

 

[keithski122]

What is the actual advantage of a touchscreen? Is it easier to operate? Is it more reliable? Is it cheaper for the manufactuter? Or is it a gimick that makes the car easier to sell?

 

[jerrytug]

What is the actual advantage of a touchscreen? Is it easier to operate? Is it more reliable? Is it cheaper for the manufactuter? Or is it a gimick that makes the car easier to sell?

It's a pointless and dangerous gimmick. Cars have been around for 100 years, and this is a backwards step, or sideways maybe.

 

[MetalMonkey]

What is the actual advantage of a touchscreen? Is it easier to operate? Is it more reliable? Is it cheaper for the manufactuter? Or is it a gimick that makes the car easier to sell?

I would imagine there is definitely a marketing element to it - everything has a touchscreen these days.

I can also see there is also a manufacturing aspect to it - i.e. you don't have to manufacture lots of different controls, buttons, levers etc.
One touchscreen with one connector and then the rest of it is simply software which can be altered to add different features and controls depending on the model and options. So it is probably a lot easier for the manufacturers from that point of view.

 

[J1nx]

I dont like pressing buttons behind the wheel, it takes my focus off the book I’m reading whilst in autopilot.

 

[addjunkie]

I would imagine there is definitely a marketing element to it - everything has a touchscreen these days.

I can also see there is also a manufacturing aspect to it - i.e. you don't have to manufacture lots of different controls, buttons, levers etc.
One touchscreen with one connector and then the rest of it is simply software which can be altered to add different features and controls depending on the model and options. So it is probably a lot easier for the manufacturers from that point of view.

A reverse camera is pants with out a screen

 

[redlig]

Doesn't always help!

View attachment 340559

I bet the pilot was also warned with some form of audio device.

 

[redlig]

My Africa twin has an TFT dash as well as a smaller LCD one below. It is a touch screen but that is disabled when on the move. You can however operate via the buttons on the left bar. Works great and doesn't really distract, then again it is directly in front of me so not looking away like you would be in a car.View attachment 340576

Makes me wonder how I ever rode a m/c without even a working speedo let alone indicators etc. Must have been lucky .

 

[redlig]

Even the speedo is a good eye stretch from looking straight ahead, on my Mondeo.

When I use my sat nav I stick it up on the windscreen, bottom right, so it's a mere twitch of the eyes to see it. Same on my bike, my Tomtom is mounted up high so I don't even have to move my head to see it. I don't know why more cars aren't built like that, speedo up high in plain view.

View attachment 340588

Because the fashion department say NO.

 

[Hood]

Makes me wonder how I ever rode a m/c without even a working speedo let alone indicators etc. Must have been lucky .

Oh I have been there as well, I bet you used to write letters and send off for things from brochures/catalogues, much easier nowadays with emails and online shopping though Progress is what it is called, sometimes it feels like the opposite but generally it is a good thing.

 

[Barking Mat]

Yeah, not read all the posts.

We've a touchscreen tablet in our pug expert.

It's fine for GPS and selecting what radio channel's.

But like electric handbrakes.

Why ?

Really don't need it.

Pees me off.

 

[Morrisman]

So if you have a car with climate control which is operated by physical buttons or a knob you don't ever look at the display or knob to see what temperature you're setting it to?

If you're cold, you turn it up. If you're hot you turn it down, doesn't matter what the numbers say.

Because the fashion department say NO.

And that's exactly it. Same reason the A pillars on my Mondeo are about 6" wide and can hide a whole car if you don't duck and weave to see round them pulling out at junctions. They could be made half the size, but fashion man, he says no.

 

[redlig]

So if you have a car with climate control which is operated by physical buttons or a knob you don't ever look at the display or knob to see what temperature you're setting it to?

I never realised that the actual temperature is so important as opposed to "am I too hot or cold " . Does the car become undrivable if set at 23 instead of 22?

 

[Hood]

Makes me wonder how I ever rode a m/c without even a working speedo let alone indicators etc. Must have been lucky .

Oh and BTW the reason that the Twin has the smaller LCD screen below is because you can use Android Auto or Apple Carplay and have your GPS navigation on the TFT, beats paper maps especially when on a bike

 

[Hood]

....

And that's exactly it. Same reason the A pillars on my Mondeo are about 6" wide and can hide a whole car if you don't duck and weave to see round them pulling out at junctions. They could be made half the size, but fashion man, he says no.

My Berlingo van is like that, right PITA on the narrow winding estate roads, one corner you have to lean forward and peer, the next you have to lean back and squint.

 

[redlig]

My Berlingo van is like that, right PITA on the narrow winding estate roads, one corner you have to lean forward and peer, the next you have to lean back and squint.

Look upon it as an exercise bike with a roof.

 

[bricol]

First touch screen I got annoyed with was quite a lot of years ago in some rental vehicle in Luxembourg - horrible. And as it wad middle of winter, first thing it simply ignored my cold finger tip attempting to make it do things!

In my old Lancia, I know which button does what - I reach, switch on the rear screen, front or rear fogs, rear wiper . . . twiddle a knob for fan, another click for faster, another click for faster still . . . another nice round knob select, up, both, down for direction of air flow, a third allows selection of hot through to cold . . . if I'm cold, I turn it hotter, if I'm hot, turn it colder . . . No need to look, just reach, twiddle . . .

Same with radio - press preset until I find right one, or twiddle, or press a button, to tune up, tune down, another for volume . . . admittedly, having to catch it when it used to launch out of the dash under hard launches from traffic lights was a little distracting . . .

Same with my little 1100cc Pug 106 - although not the hard launch issue

My Dodge - big screen in middle . . . touch a small virtual button on the bottom of the screen for climate, then others for direction of air, and temp setting - same for radio . . . It does have proper buttons for demist, and a proper twiddly know for fan speed too. But actual temp is fiddly on the screen.

Never mind having to find the fiddly twiddly wheel to one side of the dash to turn its brightness down - or even find the virtual button to turn it off at night - I would much prefer some twiddly knobs or sliders.

I've had to get another pair of bifocal spectacles so I can see the road, and then focus on the screen when needed!

Common issue in the warmer states of the USA is the screen delaminating. Or failing to work after a software update. Or the actuators in the heater/air-con that it controls failing . . . the bowden cables in the Lancia and Pug are still working fine after 31 yrs . . .

 

[DAPPH]

Pah. My granddad could roll and light a roll up without taking his eyes off the road...

e was back seat passenger ????