Study finds that buttons in cars are safer and quicker to use than touchscreens (futurism.com)

Article summary

A study by Swedish car magazine Vi Bilägare found that buttons in cars are safer and quicker to use than touchscreens. The study tested 12 car models, including a 2005 Volvo with physical controls, and found that the Volvo outperformed the modern cars with infotainment screens. The study suggests that traditional buttons and knobs have a tactility that allows drivers to intuitively find and adjust them while keeping their eyes on the road. This is in contrast to touchscreens, which can be distracting and require additional navigation to reach a feature.

Main themes

• car safety
• touchscreen usability
• self-driving technology
• regulatory action
• distracted driving
• auto infotainment systems

What commenters say

• The use of touchscreens in cars is a safety concern due to the lack of tactile feedback and the need to look at the screen to operate them.
• The trend of replacing physical buttons with touchscreens is driven by a desire for elegant minimalism and smartphone-like technology, but it prioritizes aesthetics over safety and usability.
• Some argue that self-driving technology will eventually make human drivers obsolete, but until then, cars should be optimized for safe driving with good controls.
• Others believe that regulators should act to restrict the use of touchscreens in cars due to safety concerns, but it is unclear whether this will happen.
• The preference for touchscreens over physical buttons is often driven by visual appeal, but this can come at the cost of safety and usability.
• There is a need for scientific evidence to support regulating auto infotainment systems within safety-critical guardrails to prevent distracted driving.
• The development of self-driving technology is not a reason to compromise on safety and usability in current cars, as human drivers will still be responsible for operating vehicles for the foreseeable future.