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Volkswagen reintroducing physical controls for vital functions (autocar.co.uk)

611 points by zfg · 513 days ago · 379 comments on HN

Article summary

Volkswagen's design chief has announced that the company will reintroduce physical controls for vital functions in their cars, starting with the production version of the ID 2all concept. This move comes after criticism for replacing physical buttons with touchscreens and haptic sliders in recent models. The company will keep touchscreens for certain functions, but ensure that essential controls are accessible through physical buttons. This change aims to improve user experience and safety while driving.

Main themes

  • Car design
  • User experience
  • Touchscreen controls
  • Physical buttons
  • Safety features
  • Automotive industry trends

What commenters say

  • The shift from physical buttons to touchscreens in cars has been a mistake that compromises safety and user experience.
  • Some features, such as GPS and setup configurations, are suitable for touchscreens, but essential driving controls should have physical buttons.
  • The cost of producing touchscreens versus physical buttons is not a significant factor in the decision to use one over the other.
  • Tesla's design approach, which emphasizes touchscreens and minimalism, has been criticized for prioritizing style over functionality and safety.
  • The automotive industry's trend of adopting touchscreens and capacitive controls has been driven by a desire to reduce costs and increase velocity, but has ultimately led to a worse user experience.
  • The reintroduction of physical buttons by Volkswagen is a step in the right direction, but other manufacturers, such as Tesla, still have room for improvement in their design approach.
  • The use of touchscreens in cars can be acceptable for non-essential functions, but critical controls should always have a physical interface to ensure safety and ease of use.
  • The industry's focus on making cars more like smartphones has led to a lack of consideration for the unique needs and constraints of driving, resulting in poorly designed interfaces.