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posted by chromas on Thursday April 12 2018, @05:55AM   Printer-friendly
from the tactile-response-is-for-knobs dept.

When I went car shopping recently, I was amazed by the autonomous technologies in most new models: automatic lane-keeping, braking to avoid collisions and parallel parking, for example.

But I was appalled by the state of dashboard technology. Technology sells, so car companies are all about touch screens and apps these days. Unfortunately, they're truly terrible at designing user interfaces (UIs)—the ways that you, the human, are supposed to interact with it, the car. A good user interface (a) is easy to navigate, (b) puts frequently used controls front and center, (c) gives clear feedback as you make a change and (d) is apparently beyond the capabilities of today's car companies. I asked my Twitter followers to help me nominate the World's Worst Car UI Designs—and I was flooded with responses.

Source:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/automobile-dashboard-technology-is-simply-awful/

Submitted via IRC for AndyTheAbsurd


Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 2) by MostCynical on Thursday April 12 2018, @06:43AM (6 children)

    by MostCynical (2589) on Thursday April 12 2018, @06:43AM (#665782) Journal

    Mercedes Benz has moved the gear lever to the column, on the right
    Windscreen wiper controls (for front and read windows, including wash!) are on a twist/pushy knob on the end of the indicator stalk.

    Some of the stereo controls are on the steering wheel, but there is a volume knob on the centre console.

    The cruise control buttons are on a stalk under the indicators, but you can't see any of the buttons, as the whole stalk is hidden behind the steeing wheel. (The cruise control stalk has six functions, and a button that changes the behaviour of four, making ten in total)

    Even the best screw it up.

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  • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 12 2018, @07:06AM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 12 2018, @07:06AM (#665785)

    That lever placement has been optional for at least the past 70+ years, however it was more popular on GMs and certain generations of Fords than anything else. Unless this Mercedes has bench seats though, it doesn't make much sense in a modern car, since most of the reason for doing so was to leave the drive tunnel clear for an extra passenger.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 12 2018, @07:19AM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 12 2018, @07:19AM (#665790)

      The important use is walking between the rows of seats. It's also a place to set a trash can.

      • (Score: 0, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 12 2018, @07:03PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 12 2018, @07:03PM (#666107)

        Nah, it's all about the road head. Nothing is worse than shifting in to park on the freeway with your dick in someone's mouth.

    • (Score: 4, Interesting) by MostCynical on Thursday April 12 2018, @08:12AM

      by MostCynical (2589) on Thursday April 12 2018, @08:12AM (#665795) Journal

      Makes converting from left- to right- hand drive easier..

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      "I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
    • (Score: 2) by EETech1 on Thursday April 12 2018, @09:47PM

      by EETech1 (957) on Thursday April 12 2018, @09:47PM (#666173)

      My girlfriend used to love sitting right next to me as I shifted gears in my old Ford.
      4th gear was in the perfect location!
      (I used to hose clamp weights on the driveshaft when we'd go out on dates:)

  • (Score: 2) by Gaaark on Thursday April 12 2018, @10:23AM

    by Gaaark (41) on Thursday April 12 2018, @10:23AM (#665834) Journal

    That WAS QuiteCynical!

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