How about touchscreens in cars

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

The back-up camera is just more of what we discussing earlier.

Why would I do it worse when I can do it better?

Backup cameras are not expensive, especially for manufacturers, they don't weigh anything, and they work just like a mirror. Why wouldn't I want one?

There will always be people who insist on doing things the worse way. They rarely end up as chief engineers on successful race teams.

They rarely end up as Cheif engineers of anything QA/QC managers and by some miracle they are one of the few half lit minded people they do, they end up not keeping it very long due to some major disaster happening. Which is exactly why it troubles me to hear that ITCC Andrew wants to be one with his attitude. As well as leaving his awesome gig as super mechanic.

 

[Xilor]

I think the majority of people who hate on back-up cameras have simply never owned a car with one.

I used to think they're a useless accessory for stupid people, and was upset when I found out I HAD to have one on my car (it was included in the Bluetooth package, and I really wanted Bluetooth).

Half a year later I get upset when I have to drive clients' cars without a back-up camera. It just makes parking maneuvers so much easier, especially in big cars and at nighttime.

 

[McLaren]

I'm still amazed at how excited people get over seeing backup cameras. My car has it & I've had some folks with no real experience using them think, "Wow!" I guess I'm just used to it or know that they'd lose their minds if they saw just how far advanced some systems are (guided lines, radar observing anything moving within' your rearward path, even parking sensors to give more guidance).

In that case I'd add buttons. Steering wheel mounted being a good idea (can't remember if Tesla has these, so I'm going off the "no buttons" comment). Steering wheel mounted probably being a good idea, borrowing the HOTAS concept from aircraft. All the controls you need to use are already instantly in reach just by driving the car. For me this would be radio, A/C, Navigation, Lights, Instrument Display options. You could use the touchscreen for other stuff (internet browsing, additional options you can't fit into the steering wheel button set, etc). I'd also duplicate most of the steering wheel mounted controls on the touchscreen firstly for options sake and secondly to allow passenger control if needed.

This has been pretty standard practice for half a decade now. However, typically, it is restricted to radio channel/volume, bluetooth/voice command, & your instrument options because there's only so much room on a wheel. A/C will likely always remain button based outside the nav. unit, though some of our cars at work have their A/Cs controlled through the touchscreen.

Internet & things like that are frowned upon because of the potential lawsuits that could follow, but Lexus has experimented with it using Enform (Facebook, Bing, MovieTickets, etc.). However, these can only be accessed like other general settings whilst in Park. Passenger control will likely never expand beyond A/C controls on their side; it could be argued that the more control of a touchscreen a passenger has, the more distracted a driver may be paying attention to them.

Or be killed in a crash while watching Seinfeld while driving... That happened here.


They're distractions.

Proving once more you have no concept of what manufacturers actually do; nobody on the current market has a navigation system that allows that. Bypassing it doesn't hold anyone at fault but the idiot at hand. It's like claiming cruise control is pointless & dangerous because someone dumbass ran his RV off the road because he thought it would drive itself.

 

[ildd]

@McLaren no manufacturer has done that because it's illegal in most states to watch video while driving (though I'm assuming you already know that).

 

[Slash]

@McLaren no manufacturer has done that because it's illegal in most states to watch video while driving (though I'm assuming you already know that).

Hmm, I wonder why...

 

[Omnis]

Last weekend I was in a Sonata trying to configure audio settings while driving down the road. I could not for the life of me press the right button since there was always just enough jostling on the road to move my finger the required few mm away. Then I had to deal with the same errors while trying to fix the previous mistake. It was really, really annoying, and I was the passenger! Can't imagine using that damn thing while driving.

I like touchscreens, but they have to be handheld like a phone. If you're asking me to stick a finger out to press something not in my grasp, it's like pin the tail on the donkey.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Last weekend I was in a Sonata trying to configure audio settings while driving down the road. I could not for the life of me press the right button since there was always just enough jostling on the road to move my finger the required few mm away. Then I had to deal with the same errors while trying to fix the previous mistake. It was really, really annoying, and I was the passenger! Can't imagine using that damn thing while driving.

I like touchscreens, but they have to be handheld like a phone. If you're asking me to stick a finger out to press something not in my grasp, it's like pin the tail on the donkey.

I wonder if that has more to do with the Sonata than touchscreens in general. We've got a Civic Si with a touchscreen and the ride is fairly firm, but I've had no problem using it on the go if I need to. It helps that it's a simple system and that there are steering wheel controls for volume and a few other audio options. I do generally try to avoid fiddling with the audio or other features like that when I'm on the move, unless I've got a safe moment to look away from the road or I've got steering wheel controls. Those are definitely the best idea, IMO, no matter what infotainment system you have.

 

[GattigerPlay]

No. Not yet. There are still a lot of issues, such as response speed, haptic feedback and the difficulty of running everything through a single system. Ford's MyFordTouch is a sobering reminder of how bad it can get. Blackberry's QNX, with its independent kernels, shows that it can be better... but having steering wheel keypads are still a necessity, so the driver can focus on the road.

I'm not asking IF it is possible, I'm pretending it IS possible.

 

[niky]

I'm not asking IF it is possible, I'm pretending it IS possible.

Last statement covers it. Having steering wheel keypads for important functions and shortcuts is a necessity, allowing the driver to access common functions without removing his/her hands from the wheel and taking their attention from the road.

 

[LivingWithGames]

Touchscreens are only good for computer and tv screen, the way we intend and plan to use for our amusement and entertainment. Phones and tablets are pefect with that. But implementing them for the driver or passenger, it's plain dreadful.

However, if you put touchscreens on the seats, when you're behind the seats that is when you'r ethe oen sitting on the backseats, they might be kinda handy. For a bit.

As for the computer part I mentioned before, using it for menu on games and websites and maybe desktop, is handy. Just using them to play games is not reliable because keyboard and mouse.

 

[niky]

Depends on how the game is formatted. Playing a game whose entire structure is built around the keyboard-and-mouse format is problematic. Witness how long it took them to do decent shooters for consoles... and even now you need at least some auto-aim to get it right.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Touchscreens are only good for computer and tv screen, the way we intend and plan to use for our amusement and entertainment. Phones and tablets are pefect with that. But implementing them for the driver or passenger, it's plain dreadful.

However, if you put touchscreens on the seats, when you're behind the seats that is when you'r ethe oen sitting on the backseats, they might be kinda handy. For a bit.

As for the computer part I mentioned before, using it for menu on games and websites and maybe desktop, is handy. Just using them to play games is not reliable because keyboard and mouse.

You really didn't explain anything all you seem to be angling toward is an entertainment factor solely and not a more fundamental and reasonable purpose which isn't entertainment oriented as expressed in the 8 prior pages of this thread. Also what TVs have touch screen because that's an inane concept especially for those who have kids, like myself.

 

[McLaren]

Touchscreens are only good for computer and tv screen, the way we intend and plan to use for our amusement and entertainment. Phones and tablets are pefect with that. But implementing them for the driver or passenger, it's plain dreadful.

Elaborate on this on because a touch screen in a car is far more useful than a touchscreen TV; the invention of the remote would become utterly pointless.

Touchscreen computer screens are out there, but they're a gimmick. Think about how you sit when you're at a computer. Far more efficient to use a keyboard & mouse than to stretch your arms out towards the screen to type.

However, if you put touchscreens on the seats, when you're behind the seats that is when you'r ethe oen sitting on the backseats, they might be kinda handy. For a bit.

Zero reason for this unless they plan on implementing things such as internet access & what not. But, only companies like Rolls Royce would take advantage of such a deal.

As for the computer part I mentioned before, using it for menu on games and websites and maybe desktop, is handy. Just using them to play games is not reliable because keyboard and mouse.

What does this have to do with cars?

 

[Tornado]

I used to play Plasma Pong in high school on the SMART board when I was bored. It was actually pretty awesome.

 

[Danoff]

Last weekend I was in a Sonata trying to configure audio settings while driving down the road. I could not for the life of me press the right button since there was always just enough jostling on the road to move my finger the required few mm away. Then I had to deal with the same errors while trying to fix the previous mistake. It was really, really annoying, and I was the passenger! Can't imagine using that damn thing while driving.

I like touchscreens, but they have to be handheld like a phone. If you're asking me to stick a finger out to press something not in my grasp, it's like pin the tail on the donkey.

Not if you're using gestures it's not.

Last statement covers it. Having steering wheel keypads for important functions and shortcuts is a necessity, allowing the driver to access common functions without removing his/her hands from the wheel and taking their attention from the road.

Steering wheel keypads are not the only way to control a touchscreen system without taking your hands off the wheel... voice commands. Almost everyone in this thread is not properly thinking this issue through. You're not the only ones to blame, neither is google, or apple, or anyone else in this market.


In my car, if you want to navigate somewhere you simply say "Ok google, navigate to somewhere" and it will do so. Both hands on the wheel.
You can also tell the car to change volume, or change track, or load pandora, or kill pandora. But faster than that is to use gestures to change track, or kill pandora.

Two fingers down on the screen gets you the next track. You don't have to take your eyes off the road, you don't have to hit a small target on the screen, and you don't have to feel anything. You just swipe two fingers down the screen anywhere on the screen... next track. Pause the music? Double tap... anywhere on the screen. No need to look.

Again I'll mention that because navigation is so absurdly easy to initiate, I navigate almost everywhere. Google knows where the traffic is, and it knows the fastest route around said traffic. I do keep the turn-by-turn voice bit off so that I can listen to music.

Also, it looks better than the car did initially:

Also, the display automatically dims the lights when the sun goes down based on your GPS location.

 

[Joel]

Touchscreen computer screens are out there, but they're a gimmick. Think about how you sit when you're at a computer. Far more efficient to use a keyboard & mouse than to stretch your arms out towards the screen to type.

They don't make a ton of sense on a desktop with a monitor, but a touchscreen display on a laptop can be surprisingly practical. I was skeptical of the idea but I've tried a laptop with a touchscreen and it's a lot more convenient than I expected it would be. You don't use it to navigate around like on a tablet, but when you're doing something like navigating through files/folders it's often easier to just tap on a folder icon than to use the touchpad to move the pointer. I end up using the touchscreen in unison with the touchpad which works a lot better than I thought it would.

 

[McLaren]

A laptop I could see since it's a portable device, which is the one thing touchscreens have obviously excelled at.

 

[Joel]

The ergonomics make a lot more sense on a laptop too, with it sitting on your lap it's only a few inches from the keyboard anyway. Once you get used to it you can kinda just judge whether it's faster to use the touchpad or just tap the screen.

 

[Omnis]

@Danoff, your unit is not just a touch screen, as you've explained. It is an exception.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Elaborate on this on because a touch screen in a car is far more useful than a touchscreen TV; the invention of the remote would become utterly pointless.

Touchscreen computer screens are out there, but they're a gimmick. Think about how you sit when you're at a computer. Far more efficient to use a keyboard & mouse than to stretch your arms out towards the screen to type.

Zero reason for this unless they plan on implementing things such as internet access & what not. But, only companies like Rolls Royce would take advantage of such a deal.

What does this have to do with cars?

I have to use a touch screen computer in the labs and while I agree with you that they're a gimmick more than a useful tool (trying to use a finger to click a small icon isn't fun) I don't have to really stretch out my arms. They're basically in the same position they would be if typing just a bit higher up so it's not a big deal in that aspect.

 

[Danoff]

I have to use a touch screen computer in the labs and while I agree with you that they're a gimmick more than a useful tool

I fully agree.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I fully agree.

Even if I don't find you funny

 

[Danoff]

Even if I don't find you funny

You'll come around eventually.

 

[niky]

Eventually, voice will fill the role nicely, but even the best current voice systems are limited in terms of how well they recognize commands. Have even the slightest of accents and it goes out the window. (Funny watching everyone else here struggle with Sync voice commands is funny.) Granted, you can force a learning algorithm so it will eventually understand the owner, but it's not a seamless experience. Then there's the problem of ambient noise...

I've seen a lot of next-gen systems, and a lot of touchscreen integration with advanced in-car controls. I like Mazda's current system, which pairs an i-Drive style puck with a touch screen. The puck's twist, move and push motions cover almost every need, meaning the touchscreen portion only gets used occassionally. Lexus has some neat ideas... they have a puck that not only has haptic feedback, but also detents that change based on the screen you're on, allowing incredibly quick scrolling to buttons.

Then there's the possibility of steering wheel mounted touch pads that will allow thumb control or thumb gestures...

 

[ildd]

That last part is already halfway done. Audi has a touchpad in the center console of the A3 that... goes through your contacts... Or something.

 

[McLaren]

I have to use a touch screen computer in the labs and while I agree with you that they're a gimmick more than a useful tool (trying to use a finger to click a small icon isn't fun) I don't have to really stretch out my arms. They're basically in the same position they would be if typing just a bit higher up so it's not a big deal in that aspect.

Do you sit when you use it, or stand? Out of curiosity.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Do you sit when you use it, or stand? Out of curiosity.

Most times I'm sitting, on the occasions I'm in a rush to do work I am standing due to moving from station to computer I'm standing. I've also used team partners touch screen laptops and those were a bit of a nightmare, but I chalk that up as to it not being my personal computer thus not knowing how to use it up front.

 

[Danoff]

Eventually, voice will fill the role nicely, but even the best current voice systems are limited in terms of how well they recognize commands. Have even the slightest of accents and it goes out the window. (Funny watching everyone else here struggle with Sync voice commands is funny.) Granted, you can force a learning algorithm so it will eventually understand the owner, but it's not a seamless experience. Then there's the problem of ambient noise...

I've seen a lot of next-gen systems, and a lot of touchscreen integration with advanced in-car controls. I like Mazda's current system, which pairs an i-Drive style puck with a touch screen. The puck's twist, move and push motions cover almost every need, meaning the touchscreen portion only gets used occassionally. Lexus has some neat ideas... they have a puck that not only has haptic feedback, but also detents that change based on the screen you're on, allowing incredibly quick scrolling to buttons.

Then there's the possibility of steering wheel mounted touch pads that will allow thumb control or thumb gestures...

Mazda, and Lexus, and any other car manufacturer is not going to be able to hold a candle to Google. Mine is an in-dash Nexus 7 tablet. With that you get Google voice recognition AND you can program it to take a voice command of your choosing to do whatever Tasker can do... and Tasker can do a lot.

You're right, voice commands are not going to work out as long as every car manufacturer tries to go it alone. But that won't last long.

 

[niky]

Yup. Sooner or later, the car manufacturers will have to leave it all to the professionals. The question is which supplier will be dominant in the decade to come.

 

[GattigerPlay]

Last statement covers it. Having steering wheel keypads for important functions and shortcuts is a necessity, allowing the driver to access common functions without removing his/her hands from the wheel and taking their attention from the road.

I don't want to modify the wheel, the keypads or switches can remain where they are.