Computer screens on car dashboards.

[Wozzaaah]

All I can say is the world would be a very boring place if we all shared the same opinions on everything.
I have a touchscreen and find it absolutely fine to use and never feel like I’m distracted if I have to use it.

 

[bigegg]

Oh really, I’ve previously explained why it is more distracting, if you disagree fair enough.
Here’s another example, wife’s Astra, the heater controls are at the bottom of the centre console - where you can’t make out any of the symbols - she likes it roasting - so what do I do? Drive in a sweat? No, I have to pull in to peer down at the bloody things.
Poor design, simple as that, should never have been given a licence or whatever they need to sell these things.

But that's my point: it's NOT the touchscreen that is the problem, its the design of the controls.
You would have the same issue whether manual controls or touchscreen?
The difference is that (potentially) you can get new firmware that improves the touchscreen interface.

 

[redlig]

Realistically, once you are used to the controls, is the fact it's a touchscreen *really* any more distracting than a manual control?
Or is it just ludditism?

fwiw: I've installed a rasp-pi touchscreen control in my car. It only controls the satnav, media centre ("stereo") and telephone - *so far* .
Eventually, it will communicate with my house controller to do things like turn on driveway lights, or open the garage door, or turn on central heating when I'm nearly home.

O[d tech. No mention of cooking dinner/ operating washing machine / TV / cutting the grass/ putting the bins out/ closing curtains / windows /letting the cat or dog out / feeding the same/ etc. By the way will it also take a photo of the tea leaf that has snuck into your ,now open , garage and nicked all your favourite tools which are not covered by insurance as you didn't take adequate care.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Ok, I am a bit of an old fogey and not a fan of handing over control to bits of silicon and programmers. It basically takes away involvement in the driving process, which is pretty basic and needs your whole attention to keep safe, not to mention satisfaction in getting it right.
I am not sure that the car outfits have the drivers needs at heart, more likely profit and the service 'after sales' as it is getting less possible to fix things oneself. We are becoming victims of 'big transport' Coding of components to keep out 'alternative' suppliers along with startling fees for fixing what appear to be minor problems.
Does anybody really need a Range Rover with their horrible reliability and eye watering service costs? Only if you can afford the 'image'.

Screens in cars are just another 'brick in the wall' No need, but hey, 'Progress'

 

[reb78]

e was back seat passenger ????

Haha. Knees on the wheel. It was fine!! He only really used 4th gear so didnt need the gearstick, just slipped the clutch when it was struggling. Hands on the roll up was the priority.

He did take his driving test on a tractor in the park where he was a groundskeeper at the time...

 

[Bravheart]

Chatting to a tesla salesman a few years ago claimed they make cars and batteries and assembled by robots fair enough. What he then said is we don't make switches, buttons knobs etc. have never invested in that technology so all our switches are outsourced mainly from MB. That will probably be the reason so much control is on the screen

BTW. Iirc
He also said that screen is updated regularly as you are charging and new features added vehicle condition checked and maintenance noted. This bit seems a bit big brotherish for my liking

 

[mike os]

Car, navigate to .....

Megadeath doesn't appear in your play list would you like to add it ?

Cancel

Calling mother

CANCEL

your destination is on the left

 

[redlig]

Car, navigate to .....

Megadeath doesn't appear in your play list would you like to add it ?

Cancel

Calling mother

CANCEL

your destination is on the left

More like.

Were was I going to and why am I sitting in this car. ?

Shopping! Oh what was I sent out for?

What is my CCard number?

Joking aside I did actually hear a radio interview when a woman said that she always used the Satnav when going shopping. Not for directions but for company.

 

[DAPPH]

Let's be a little more honest shall we ?
Aa quick peek to find your control lever/ knob /button and operate it is a far less dangerous distraction timewise than trying to locate the icon on a screen , fondle it till it comes up with what you want whilst your are watching it and still messing around with the screen by which time you've driven for four or five seconds without concentrating on the road.

 

[jerrytug]

Let's be a little more honest shall we ?
Aa quick peek to find your control lever/ knob /button and operate it is a far less dangerous distraction timewise than trying to locate the icon on a screen , fondle it till it comes up with what you want whilst your are watching it and still messing around with the screen by which time you've driven for four or five seconds without concentrating on the road.

You have summed up my long-winded rant in one sentence! And you used the word 'fondle'

 

[bricol]

This exactly - to take @Jaffman s point - you don’t need to operate all this stuff at all - or if you do - stop.
But stop where exactly? Next lay-by maybe? Which will be full of car owners doing the same thing.
I’m sorry, still think they’re a stupid idea.

That's my point - with a flippin screen I have to take concentraction away to find the button, wait for it to go to the right screen, then find the right bit of the screen to direct the air etc . . . old car - reach down, grasp knob, that as long as I'm within a half inch or so, my fingers will auto-find, twiddle to required direction/speed/temp.

I've not ploughed through three crossing patrol ladies/gents, two cyclists, or under an artic in the meantime, as my eyes are still looking out the windscreen.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

.....Joking aside I did actually hear a radio interview when a woman said that she always used the Satnav when going shopping. Not for directions but for company.

How sad is that?

 

[redlig]

Let's be a little more honest shall we ?
Aa quick peek to find your control lever/ knob /button and operate it is a far less dangerous distraction timewise than trying to locate the icon on a screen , fondle it till it comes up with what you want whilst your are watching it and still messing around with the screen by which time you've driven for four or five seconds without concentrating on the road.

At 60mph that's 147 yards . This time . Just got to hope that the unexpected danger doesn't happen in that distance. Or the next.

The first thing a motorcyclist hears as he lays on the road is " Sorry I didn't see you " followed by" you must have been speeding".

When I refurbished the cockpit of my vintage glider I realised that the Flap and retract levers were side by side with identical knobs . An hour in the workshop produced two totally different knobs that could not feel like each other. Looking around to identify which is which was not a good idea. landing is not a situation were a mistake could be easily forgiven.

 

[mike os]

Just used wife’s car and the screen in that is perfect … satnav and entertainment once you start the engine, all the stuff you need to drive is on buttons.

 

[redlig]

Just used wife’s car and the screen in that is perfect … satnav and entertainment once you start the engine, all the stuff you need to drive is on buttons.

And your eyes never left the road for a second.

 

[mike os]

And your eyes never left the road for a second.

Didn’t say I was driving … but other than for the Speedo and mirrors no they didn’t … not even a short skirt to distract me

 

[redlig]

Didn’t say I was driving … but other than for the Speedo and mirrors no they didn’t … not even a short skirt to distract me

Up to the comment on the short skirt I believed everything you wrote but now I'm not so sure.
If you weren't driving could you enlighten me on the word "used" .It has a few connotations.

 

[mtt.tr]

Touch screens, are getting a bit old hat anyway. Voice control is the way to go. Tesla have it as I am sure many other vehicles do.

Voice Commands

Enjoy more seamless control of your car with Tesla voice commands.

www.tesla.com

I use it in the works sprinter

 

[mtt.tr]

Seriously, voice control? What about back seat drivers and kids messing about? Who will the car listen to!

I think they coined a phrase for this statement something like "clutching at straws"

 

[500e]

Price for replacement /repaired Tesla touch screen please