I agree Irk! Touchscreens taking over controls so you have to keep looking away from your driving is a bad idea. I guess we will just have to keep improving the technology that helps people survive the crashes caused by not being good drivers.
@yakkoTDI It’s not the idiots at the wheel that I’m worried about, it’s their passengers (if any), and more particularly the cyclists and others outside of the three-ton-projectile vehicle.
@yakkoTDI I agree as well. With all of the graphic effects, and some over one foot in width, I think very few people have the discipline to not linger visually. So much for that campaign against distracted driving.
A car stereo that has indecipherable tiny-label multifunction buttons is nearly as bad. Cut out the damn stupid equalizer displays, make the labels readable AT A FECKING GLANCE, and GIVE ME A SINGLE-FUNCTION GODDAMN ON/OFF SWITCH THAT DOES NOT ONE FECKING OTHER THING DAMMIT! As for touch screens, I’m with Irk; well up into the ten-worst ideas for a car stereo interface ever. In fact, in my opinion, those touch-screens should be disabled when the vehicle is in motion, forcing the manufacturers to give us physical controls for tuning, volume, etc… Like maybe three knobs, the way many old ones were made?
Oh, and the sound system should default to OFF, GODDAMMIT when I start the car. (There are vehicles where it insists on helpily being On, for various really infuriating reasons.)
@werehatrack The real scary,and potentially expesive part here is the insane level of integration of these devices. Dubbed infotainment centers aka IVI, IVIS, anchored by the IHC referred to by auto techs as the “head” or “head unit”. They have there tentacles in, but not limited to, the ECM…ECU…TCM and BCM. One miscommunication from this device could cause anything from a no start to non working turn signal. All in the name of “driver satety and convenience”.
And just to add to the “fun” of a touchscreen: As people age the pads on the fingertips wear down. In my 70’s now, I don’t have many left, and touchscreen precision depends on them more than you might think. I finally bought an Oasis e-reader just because it has forward/back buttons on the sides and my favorite Kindle was getting harder to control with just the touchscreen. Fortunately, my vehicle has buttons/knobs/dials in addition to the touchscreen, so I don’t have to look at it while driving. The last thing a GeezerMobile needs is a touchscreen that controls everything. I hope to move up to an EV in the next few years, but it will have to have some manual controls, not just a touchscreen and a voice interface.
@rockblossom
This weekend, here in Houston, I encountered another thing that might be weirdly age-related. The restrooms at our convention center had those damn wave-your-hand-at-it towel dispensers, and the devices did not seem to be able to see my hand. I have no idea why that should be the case. I know that as we get older, we get less visible to sales critters and other people who are supposed to be there for our assistance, but when even the machinery can’t see us anymore, what are we supposed to do? Carry a bloody Klingon disruptor to vaporize the damn thing? It might get their attention…
Favorite comment: When I wave my hand in front of those, I often imagine that I’m Obi Wan Kenobi.
“You will give me paper towels”
“I will give you paper towels”
Added: The problem for many of them is that the hands need to have a certain moisture level, and OldPeopleHands have lost the crevices that hold moisture. A possible solution (?) is to lean in and waggle your tongue at it. It is also possible that this is one of many things that make old people look demented.
@rockblossom Now that’s funny. Trying to picture myself doing that. Think I’ll just carry the old fashioned handkerchief like my dad. Or maybe a ShamWow.
@blaineg There really isn’t much money to be had in B&M banks, and the bills can be traced. All of the best robberies are done electronically now, and our their physical fingerprints are not the ones we they prefer not to leave behind.
@rockblossom
Actually, I suspect that the problem is that the sensor is doing infrared thermal imaging. And my hands tend to run cold. Particularly in a room that is air conditioned at a temperature level that would allow you to hang beef carcasses for aging.
@detailer@rockblossom In Japan, they don’t supply paper towels or air dryers in most public bathrooms; everyone is expected to carry a handkerchief to dry their hands, and everyone does.
Yah IRK, I’m not with you on this one. Touchscreen car console controls, if designed properly (i.e. big ass buttons) are more effective then scrolling and clicking. For basic stuff like volume control, yah, the knob or steering wheel control (if exists) is more efficient. Even like climate control - it’s easier to hit a big button than fiddle with little physical buttons that really take your eyes off the road.
However, if you still disagree, you can blame the goat. And pay an IRKcoin!
@hammi99 The main problem with touch screens is that they require looking away from driving, whereas physical knobs and buttons don’t.
As long as you know the general location of what you’re looking for, and remember the basic layout of your controls, you can feel your way to the exact button/knob you need (while simultaneously watching that suspicious looking car that’s getting ready to swerve into your lane without signaling). That’s not possible with a touch screen, unless there are only like 4 buttons showing right then. (maybe more are allowed; I’ve never actually had to drive with a touch screen installed, so I don’t really know)
@hammi99 Yeah, physical controls are way better for the stereo, and way better for climate control, but having a touchscreen is way better for all the other accessory things I control while driving, like… … …
I agree Irk! Touchscreens taking over controls so you have to keep looking away from your driving is a bad idea. I guess we will just have to keep improving the technology that helps people survive the crashes caused by not being good drivers.
@yakkoTDI It’s not the idiots at the wheel that I’m worried about, it’s their passengers (if any), and more particularly the cyclists and others outside of the three-ton-projectile vehicle.
@yakkoTDI I agree as well. With all of the graphic effects, and some over one foot in width, I think very few people have the discipline to not linger visually. So much for that campaign against distracted driving.
A car stereo that has indecipherable tiny-label multifunction buttons is nearly as bad. Cut out the damn stupid equalizer displays, make the labels readable AT A FECKING GLANCE, and GIVE ME A SINGLE-FUNCTION GODDAMN ON/OFF SWITCH THAT DOES NOT ONE FECKING OTHER THING DAMMIT! As for touch screens, I’m with Irk; well up into the ten-worst ideas for a car stereo interface ever. In fact, in my opinion, those touch-screens should be disabled when the vehicle is in motion, forcing the manufacturers to give us physical controls for tuning, volume, etc… Like maybe three knobs, the way many old ones were made?
Oh, and the sound system should default to OFF, GODDAMMIT when I start the car. (There are vehicles where it insists on helpily being On, for various really infuriating reasons.)
@werehatrack The real scary,and potentially expesive part here is the insane level of integration of these devices. Dubbed infotainment centers aka IVI, IVIS, anchored by the IHC referred to by auto techs as the “head” or “head unit”. They have there tentacles in, but not limited to, the ECM…ECU…TCM and BCM. One miscommunication from this device could cause anything from a no start to non working turn signal. All in the name of “driver satety and convenience”.
And just to add to the “fun” of a touchscreen: As people age the pads on the fingertips wear down. In my 70’s now, I don’t have many left, and touchscreen precision depends on them more than you might think. I finally bought an Oasis e-reader just because it has forward/back buttons on the sides and my favorite Kindle was getting harder to control with just the touchscreen. Fortunately, my vehicle has buttons/knobs/dials in addition to the touchscreen, so I don’t have to look at it while driving. The last thing a GeezerMobile needs is a touchscreen that controls everything. I hope to move up to an EV in the next few years, but it will have to have some manual controls, not just a touchscreen and a voice interface.
@rockblossom
This weekend, here in Houston, I encountered another thing that might be weirdly age-related. The restrooms at our convention center had those damn wave-your-hand-at-it towel dispensers, and the devices did not seem to be able to see my hand. I have no idea why that should be the case. I know that as we get older, we get less visible to sales critters and other people who are supposed to be there for our assistance, but when even the machinery can’t see us anymore, what are we supposed to do? Carry a bloody Klingon disruptor to vaporize the damn thing? It might get their attention…
@werehatrack Seems to be a common problem for more than just old people:
Favorite comment:
When I wave my hand in front of those, I often imagine that I’m Obi Wan Kenobi.
“You will give me paper towels”
“I will give you paper towels”
Added: The problem for many of them is that the hands need to have a certain moisture level, and OldPeopleHands have lost the crevices that hold moisture. A possible solution (?) is to lean in and waggle your tongue at it. It is also possible that this is one of many things that make old people look demented.
@rockblossom Now that’s funny. Trying to picture myself doing that. Think I’ll just carry the old fashioned handkerchief like my dad. Or maybe a ShamWow.
@rockblossom If your fingerprints are gone, have you considered a career in bank robbery?
@blaineg There really isn’t much money to be had in B&M banks, and the bills can be traced. All of the best robberies are done electronically now, and
ourtheir physical fingerprints are not the oneswethey prefer not to leave behind.@rockblossom
Actually, I suspect that the problem is that the sensor is doing infrared thermal imaging. And my hands tend to run cold. Particularly in a room that is air conditioned at a temperature level that would allow you to hang beef carcasses for aging.
@detailer @rockblossom In Japan, they don’t supply paper towels or air dryers in most public bathrooms; everyone is expected to carry a handkerchief to dry their hands, and everyone does.
How about voice activation?
@blaineg Spread the joy with some simple stickers:
@blaineg
There’s always the Talkie Toaster…
@blaineg
Holy carp! It’s real.
https://www.moen.com/smart-home/smart-faucet
@blaineg Yikes.
Yah IRK, I’m not with you on this one. Touchscreen car console controls, if designed properly (i.e. big ass buttons) are more effective then scrolling and clicking. For basic stuff like volume control, yah, the knob or steering wheel control (if exists) is more efficient. Even like climate control - it’s easier to hit a big button than fiddle with little physical buttons that really take your eyes off the road.
However, if you still disagree, you can blame the goat. And pay an IRKcoin!
@hammi99 The main problem with touch screens is that they require looking away from driving, whereas physical knobs and buttons don’t.
As long as you know the general location of what you’re looking for, and remember the basic layout of your controls, you can feel your way to the exact button/knob you need (while simultaneously watching that suspicious looking car that’s getting ready to swerve into your lane without signaling). That’s not possible with a touch screen, unless there are only like 4 buttons showing right then. (maybe more are allowed; I’ve never actually had to drive with a touch screen installed, so I don’t really know)
@hammi99 One I don’t have a problem with,and rather like is the HUD.
@hammi99 Yeah, physical controls are way better for the stereo, and way better for climate control, but having a touchscreen is way better for all the other accessory things I control while driving, like… … …