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
(Score: 5, Insightful) by c0lo on Thursday April 12 2018, @07:09AM (8 children)
New car models are not primarily cars, they are entertainment units wrapped in a car packaging.
All the DRM thingies apply to them and of course (in manufacturers mind) they need to feel like a fucking big mobile devices on wheels.
Why so, you ask? How else the car industry can get to step into planned obsolescence era and force you buy a new car every 2 years?
(trollish grin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Thursday April 12 2018, @07:40AM (1 child)
Well, AM radio isn't dead, yet, but it won't be long..
"You radio no longer works in your city; as your radio is also the control unit for the whole car, please upgrade your car to continue listening to your favourite station or online service"
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 5, Informative) by c0lo on Thursday April 12 2018, @08:20AM
Yeah, I can wait the news about how people in the regional areas cannot get the messages from the local fire authority because all they have in the car is a digital streaming radio version of a receiver.
Not so funny moments due to reliance on the modern tech [abc.net.au]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 5, Interesting) by nobu_the_bard on Thursday April 12 2018, @02:15PM (5 children)
My new car has HDMI connectors. I asked various people at the dealership, what would I even use those for, and they all shrugged and claimed some people get excited over that.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by c0lo on Thursday April 12 2018, @02:29PM (1 child)
Yeah, well... some people get excited by golden-showers... beat me if I see this as a reason to make cars that piss on the occupiers
(grin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 5, Funny) by The Archon V2.0 on Thursday April 12 2018, @02:59PM
> beat me if I see this as a reason to make cars that piss on the occupiers
No no, that's the dealership's job.
(Score: 2) by zocalo on Thursday April 12 2018, @03:56PM (2 children)
UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday April 12 2018, @04:47PM
Two words: Gaming consoles
You also get AC outlets. Not sure why it's considered child-quieting to have them play FarCry5 until they puke on the back seat, but hey...
(Score: 2) by danmars on Thursday April 12 2018, @05:09PM
Maybe so you can plug in a Nintendo Switch and all non-driver occupants can compete?