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Driver Study: People Want Fewer Embedded Apps, Just Essentials That Work Easily

Posted by Soulskill on from the good-news-for-apple dept.

Lucas123 writes 'A study released at the Telematics Detroit 2014 conference revealed the obvious: Most people don't want more distracting embedded apps in their cars; they just want essential apps like navigation and music to be intuitive to use and reliable. Part of the study involved a focus group of 46 people who were asked to evaluate infotainment systems from three luxury car makers and four "mass consumer" car makers. The drivers were asked to do three things: Navigate home, find a pizza shop and find a radio station. Only 40% were able to complete all three tasks. Not surprisingly, the highest rated infotainment system was Tesla because its icons were "large" and it was easy to figure out.'

8 of 148 comments (clear)

  1. Need to be able to use without looking at it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    For any in car control - I need to be able to use it without looking at it.

    Too many things fail at this.

    1. Re:Need to be able to use without looking at it by i+kan+reed · · Score: 3, Insightful

      In theory, sure. In practice, we're not all perfect super drivers who pay proper attention to the road at all times, and very short glances at a control panel in realtively safe moments isn't an extraordinary risk.

    2. Re:Need to be able to use without looking at it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      >and very short glances at a control panel in realtively safe moments isn't an extraordinary risk.

      Maybe not for you, but idiots that will not be able to do so safely won't understand that fact, because they're idiots. Adding distractions in cars puts us all at risk.

    3. Re:Need to be able to use without looking at it by tomhath · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Exactly. If you can't use the control it without staring at it when it changes at every touch it shouldn't be in a moving vehicle.

  2. I WANT BUTTONS by maliqua · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Things that i can feel i'm working and not touchscreens!

    BUTTONS KNOBS AND TACTILE FEEDBACK!

  3. Re:Response time and voice controls by Gaygirlie · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That means sensitive touch controls with very little lag

    No. That means no touch controls. Touch controls force you to look at where you're placing your fingers and what's happening. Actual physical knobs and buttons can be used even without looking.

  4. Doesn't surprise me. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I test drove a Cadillac recently and GM's touch screen looks like it was built by people with zero UI experience. Of course, it's just about as bad as every other modern app. Nobody understands flow anymore. And it's not an American thing either. The same problems plagued touch interfaces on imports as well. Oddly, BMW's is much better than it used to be.

    This garbage is so sluggish, too. Adjusting climate controls used to be a matter of turning on a knob. Now, I have to tap on a vague piece of plastic. Nothing happens, so I tap again. Then again. Finally, the fans kick on FULL BLAST... And apparently there are only three speed settings. And seriously, adjusting volume by sliding your finger across a screen? Jesus Christ, whomever thought that shit was a good idea is a fucking MORON... Why have umpteen volume levels if all you can do is wildly skate between 0 and MAXIMUM with barely any control.

    I don't care if I sound like the old man on the porch, shaking his fist. These UIs are completely retarded.

  5. Re:On the other hand... by Em+Adespoton · · Score: 3, Insightful

    My experience is that people either use the nav system in their head, or they use the one in their car. They have problems doing both at the same time. This means that if you depend on a nav system, you'll always be really new in town, as you'll never learn to associate the instructions with what your eyes actually see out the window.