Topic: New high tech dangers?

[sailor723]

 I've test driven a couple of cars lately with quite sophisticated displays with either touch screens(Ford) or a mouse (Lexus) that control things like stereo, climate control,nav,phone etc. As I was navigating through the menus I was thinking to myself that this is at least as distracting as dialing or talking on a handheld cell phone while driving. (Something that is apparently so dangerous that it has been prohibited by law in most provinces). I could easily see how you could rear end someone while trying to bring up the screen with the radio presets or adjust the fan speed. It could be especially bad in rental cars where the drivers aren't familiar with the systems. Just imagine the spectacular crashes around airport parking lots as drivers try and turn on the defogger in the Hertz they just picked up.

Seriously though, does anyone else see this as being a potential safety issue?

[Triple Bob]

Yes. I much prefer buttons. The only thing that should require a more complex UI should be GPS, not the heater.

[Bubba]

KISS

[EV Dan]

Agree on the distraction factor of those menu screens. I'd rather them keep the conventional buttons and knobs but add voice commands to everything. You should be able to say smth like "preset 5" without having to press anything and change a radio station, same with climate control, defroster, seat warmers and other things.

[vdk]

I would rather have a combination of knobs and buttons for stereo/climate control than a series of menus on a 5" touch screen.

[rrocket]

I know on the Lexus mouse system because of the haptic feedback, you memorize the system and how many "clicks" to get to the function you want.

But also, on many of the high end systems you refer to, they also have voice control.

[tenpenny]

I know on the Lexus mouse system because of the haptic feedback, you memorize the system and how many "clicks" to get to the function you want.

Key word 'memorize'
  I remember reading something about cars in North America, one of the reasons that they had foot dimmer switches was because som engineer's wife was ticked off that when she rented a car, she couldn't figure out the dimmer switch.  There's a reason that car manufacturers make things common.,

[rrocket]

I know on the Lexus mouse system because of the haptic feedback, you memorize the system and how many "clicks" to get to the function you want.

Key word 'memorize'
  I remember reading something about cars in North America, one of the reasons that they had foot dimmer switches was because som engineer's wife was ticked off that when she rented a car, she couldn't figure out the dimmer switch.  There's a reason that car manufacturers make things common.,

We have to re-learn radio controls and HVAC controls for every car, since the buttons are not in the same place from car to car.  Ditto the placement of trunk and fuel hatch buttons, etc.  So we are memorizing the buttons on our cars.

The Lexus system (for me) was the same way.  There were only 6 icons per page.  Click, click, click. Push mouse button.  Done.  It was as easy as re-learning the radio buttons or heater functions..for me anyways.

And it's an option like every other similar system in cars, so it's not like you don't have a choice of regular buttons.  But once you learn it (some are easier to learn than others) you're able to navigate it easy without minimal taking the eyes off the road.

[Ice]

Not sure about the Lexus but Ford uses Microsoft's Sync which has some very good voice recognition technology. Why bother navigate the menu when you can press the button on the steering wheel and command the car to do your bidding?

[dougjp]

I absolutely agree with the OP. The attempt at wow factor via technology is NOT appreciated, neither is the demand to memorize all this, as if its their money not mine, and I'm given the so called "privilege" of having this stuff! Actually, its an insult to our intelligence. For example, I wonder how many more bimmers would have been sold if they didn't introduce i-drive. I'm one of those lost customers, there must be more.

Who asked for this crap anyway? Answer - the Marketing Department, not the customer!   

[rrocket]

Not sure about the Lexus but Ford uses Microsoft's Sync which has some very good voice recognition technology. Why bother navigate the menu when you can press the button on the steering wheel and command the car to do your bidding?

Yea, it has voice.  Lots of the top tier ones have both.

[Marko]

But talking aloud when no other person is around is weird! People'll think you're cookoo!

[rrocket]

But talking aloud when no other person is around is weird! People'll think you're cookoo!

Sometimes I'm the only person around worth talking to...

[vdk]

Is this any less distracting than talking on a phone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpavaEylDIc

[rrocket]

Is this any less distracting than talking on a phone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpavaEylDIc

Having kids in a car is pretty damn distracting for people too...

[blur911]

Is this any less distracting than talking on a phone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpavaEylDIc

Having kids in a car is pretty damn distracting for people too...

That's what trunks are for. 

[tortoise]

Last year I rented a Grand Cherokee that had the Pioneer touch screen stereo.  I hated it.  The high seating position coupled with the ride meant that I was forever pressing the wrong button and having to scroll back through menus.

[safristi]

Poke tha kid in the eye.... Command SHUTUP.........and I drive peacefully

   command & control....................R tradesmart.

[CatsEye68]

I absolutely agree with the OP. The attempt at wow factor via technology is NOT appreciated, neither is the demand to memorize all this, as if its their money not mine, and I'm given the so called "privilege" of having this stuff! Actually, its an insult to our intelligence. For example, I wonder how many more bimmers would have been sold if they didn't introduce i-drive. I'm one of those lost customers, there must be more.

Who asked for this crap anyway? Answer - the Marketing Department, not the customer!   

While I agree with your main point, I suspect the last statement is likely not fully accurate. There is a generation today that grew up with cellphones and their inscrutable, non-intuitive commands, that wants the interface with their car to be similar. I think these folks look at all this junk on the showroom floor and think "Cool!" and buy it, even though much of it is either useless or of questionable value. But to that generation, it is a selling feature.

[mmret]

I am a proponent of the basic knobs/buttons for the major functions.

More obscure (ie: stuff you don't need while driving) stuff can go away in some fancy pants menu, or voice control, but I really shouldn't need to hit more than one button or turn one knob to increase fan speed.