The answer is tactile buttons with displays behind them. Not sure why nobody is doing this in cars...
Because they are expensive. More importantly, how often does the function of a button is changed? Top right corner button on android is usually a back button (arrow/ x) or a profile icon. How often does a bottom navigation in an app change? Dashboard is an app that rarely changes.
I will do you one better. The screen in the button goes out. If the button changes the display based on the context, what does the button do? Is software responsible to recognize it cannot display an action and do something? What does it do? Should the user be responsible to remember what does the button do based on the context? This article is about return to physical buttons because they are reliable. Do you see any button on your cars dashboard that is unlabeled? Do you remember looking up in a manual what a weirdly iconed button does? On any piece of hardware.
This is from users perspecrtive alone.
Lets do the manufacturer. Imagine that screen buttons have SKUs. Dashboards have SKUs. Screen buttons have versioned drivers. Screen buttons need power delivery. Data lanes on pcbs. And fuck else.
Now imagine that you have a physical button. It costs cents. It closes one lane. Maybe needs power for a led.
Who the fuck wants screen buttons?
Finally. What the fuck multiple screen buttons solve that a single screen that can be any number of any buttons couldnt?
Because sure as fuck they wont solve for context, clarity and reliablity.
Fucking YES
except at rivian. they have stated future models will have an all touchscreen dashboard
While you're at it bring back the Amber, its such a perfect color for the dash
How about just generic opensource communications via Ethernet rj45? Then you just plug in any screen/computer including raspberry pi so you can have whatever system you want.
Won’t someone please think of the shareholders?!!
Can we return to transparent cases for Consoles and Tech next? I've always thought a touchscreen in cars were pretty scary since you have to take your eyes off the road.
They could go one step further and add braille support directly, it's just nudges. Tactile feeling is the only reason they are back.
Yes, I'm aware there are no blind drivers. The point is not having to look at your controls and doing so with something that already exists.
I've been around just long enough to suspect that this will be part of a cycle going back and forth between tactile controls and touchscreens.
That is, give it a decade and touchscreens will be the in-thing again. And another decade and someone will have the "fantastic new idea" of bringing tactile controls back.
And there'll be a combo breaker of some sort where a new technology comes along (probably no screens, or controls, only voice control) which a small few will absolutely love - due to sunk cost fallacy mostly - and no-one else will buy (compare: 3D TVs), and the cycle will begin again.
Bonus points for: 1) Manufacturers managing to have cycles out of step with others because the market forces aren't quite enough (people not having the money to buy new cars) to bring them all into line. 2) External factors like, say, the world ending, breaking the cycle.
About. Fucking. Time.
Drivers will see this and say hell yeah
I just want to say that I think this is the dash from my old car a Toyota Yaris.
I miss you ole' buddy. I'm sorry you got rear ended and totaled. You were a great car.
Now if only that were the case for phones. Blackberry keyboards were better than any shitty touch screen.
I'd have to disagree on that one
Having a choice would be a good start. It's either 'Solid black brick A' or 'Solid black brick B' in the smartphone world.
Sick so I can just not get a touchscreen car I waited it out
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