Car touchscreens are cheap, not good
4 hours ago
- #user experience
- #automotive technology
- #cost-cutting
- Touchscreens are increasingly replacing physical buttons and knobs in cars, primarily because they are cheaper to manufacture and install, rather than being superior in safety or usability.
- While touchscreens can offer benefits such as simplicity, flexibility, and a modern appeal, they often lead to higher driver distraction and worse usability compared to physical controls, as shown in various studies.
- Automakers prioritize cost-cutting through part reduction, which touchscreens and capacitive buttons facilitate, saving significant money per vehicle, even if it compromises user experience and safety.
- Examples from companies like VW, Tesla, and Mazda illustrate a trend where physical controls are removed in favor of touchscreens or capacitive buttons, often justified by design or user preference but largely driven by cost savings.
- Despite some advantages, the shift to touchscreens is criticized for making cars harder to use safely, with manufacturers sometimes reversing decisions (like VW reintroducing buttons) after negative feedback, highlighting the tension between cost and usability.