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Touch Interfaces In Cars Difficult To Use
An anonymous reader points out an article about touchscreen dash interfaces in cars (in particular Cadillac's "CUE" interface). From the article: "I do not recall anyone ever complaining about the iOS interface and there have been plenty of attempts to replicate the experience and its flow of control. ... As simple as iOS may appear on the surface, it is incredibly well-executed balance that matches the requirements of a touch interface for phones, tablets and other horizontal screen devices. Changing the user scenario, hardware, or software will alter the requirements for the desired user experience as well. ... CUE is not as transparent in its usage as, for example, the iPhone. We are used to certain buttons that are located on the dash – sliders and dials that we expect in places that we can quickly memorize. In the end, you want to be able to reach for such a button without taking your eyes off the road. There are no such buttons on the XTS dash. Instead, there are some capacitive touch buttons for basic climate controls, audio volume and seat heating/cooling. Since the buttons are activated by touch, they feel the same."
A touchscreen UI for some functions sounds perfectly sane (how do I set the clock again?), but ditching all of the dash buttons sounds like a recipe for disaster. I've heard from iPod users (and my own experience with my long-dead Neuros echos) that the click wheel was easy to use blindly; the move to a touchscreen made it impossible to use without looking at it.
All the important stuff is duplicated on the steering wheel. If I'm busy and the passenger wants to fiddle with the air conditioning, I can direct them to the touchscreen and I don't have to do anything. This to me is the ideal situation. The passenger can play with things that don't endanger anything, I can concentrate on avoiding the BMW driver who thinks that the little propeller sign on the front of his car means that he can pull out in front of people without looking.
From scarped cliff or quarried stone she cries "A thousand types are gone, I care for nothing, no not one."
I have a 2009 Ford Focus. I installed the aftermarket Sync kit from the Ford parts department. Does it come close to the voice input on Star Trek TOS? Absolutely not. Does it save me having to push a crapload of buttons if I want to change inputs? Yes. Does it make talking on the phone safer and easier? Yes. For example: Using voice controls: I am listening to the radio. I decide that I would like to listen to Weezer. I press the voice button and say: "USB" I press the voice button again and say: "Play artist Weezer" Outcome: I never take my eyes off the road, I'm listening to the music that i want and it took all of about 5 seconds to accomplish. Using radio knobs: I am listening to the radio. I decide that I would like to listen to Weezer. I press the Aux button. I press the Menu button. I turn the dial to Artist. I press the enter button. I turn the dial to the alphabetical group that has artists that start with W. (There are three alphabetical groups) I turn the dial a lot more to find Weezer. I press enter. I turn the dial to All Albums. I press enter. But I guess you're right, voice input is way more inefficient.