2mo ago

Touchscreens Are Out, and Tactile Controls Are Back

spectrum.ieee.org Q&A: Rachel Plotnick On the Return of Tactile Controls

Rachel Plotnick’s “re-buttonization” expertise is in demand

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334 comments

Yes please.
I don't know how much longer my button & dialled up 2012 shitbox is going to last. Being able to buy new without the crap is something to look forward to.
Then again, there's the whole 'car phones home/connected services' thing to consider as well. I like my car safe, but dumb as rocks otherwise.
- The other day I saw a mid-90s shitbox in the parking lot and it made me so hopeful for my 2008 car. Like, that's a sign my car has at least 10 more years in it.
  
  With good climate (not a rust belt) and being fortunate enough to not blow an engine, it should do well with diligent maintenance.
  Mostly why mine still goes. The bodywork is utter crap - full of scratches, dings, dents and the front end looks like someone dropped a running belt sander on it. Ex write-off. Mechanically though it is sound.
  My worry is the timing chain. Chains last longer than belts, but they are a dog to change and generally not worth the labour. It will be that or a crash that sends it to the great scrappy in the sky.
  Mid-90s a bit too early for me. I am fond of ABS (mandatory here since '04) and airbags ('98) at the very least. Not always a guarantee on cars of that era. Love the looks though.
  Best of luck with your teenager.
  
  Thanks :)
  I didn't think I could go back to not having a backup camera, heated side mirrors, and that feature that detects when your wheels are slipping and makes adjustments so you still go the way your steering wheel indicates.
  Airbags and ABS are non-negotiable.
  
  I miss heated mirrors now that you mention it. My 2003 Civic had them but the 2012 Corsa does not. Joys of poverty spec - I'm lucky to have electric windows.
- I like my car safe, but dumb as rocks otherwise.
  I always find that funny. I got my first car with radars and auto adjusting cruise control and so on and it's much safer than the 2 years older Jetta I was driving before. If I'm distracted it warns me if there's something on the road, it warns me if I act tired (swaying and going over the lines), if cruise is on it automatically slows down if the car in front of me slows down without braking...
  You're like people complaining about ABS in the motorcycle world even though it brakes faster than the majority of riders in conditions where it turns on...
  
  I think they’re talking about subscriptions to use features that are already on the car. Connected services like remote start as a service can eat shit.
  
  Indeed.
  
  Safety systems are just fine.
  ABS, lane deviation warnings, automatic braking and the like all actively prevent accidents - without being an annoyance to the driver, if implemented well. That tech is mature now and generally ok across the board.
  I dislike all kinds of cruise and attempts at self driving though. More of a personal preference, but I think it makes the driver cede too much of their control to the vehicle - allowing them to become more easily distracted and less able to notice incoming hazards that the vehicle might not.
  
  I don't want my car sending any data out to anywhere, that's all. And all those features should be able to be manually disabled, because I personally am not a distracted or tired/drunk driver so I don't need any of that stuff.

334 comments