It needs physical buttons with tactile feedback. If those buttons on the console are indeed the touch sensitive buttons similar to those on my cellular phone, they will be too difficult to use in a car. Too slippery, no tactile feedback, no finding buttons by touch.
can't say I love the buttons, they seem to be randomly placed and smooth touch sensitive buttons in a car is a very bad idea.... most distracting car ever. So many states and countries want to ban use of cell phones in cars; this cars controls will be MUCH more distracting then using a cell phone.
GM says it iPod inspired interior, but it is actually the total opposite of an iPod. An iPod is simple, intuitive and has a minimalist theme, this thing's center stack is the busiest thing I've ever seen. I mean what the hell is the point of a center stack touch screen if they are still going to put more buttons then a computer keyboard underneath it?
Agree with AJB on needing physical buttons that you can feel (and press) WITHOUT having to take your eyes off the road to figure out where the buttons are!!
Before you guys get your panties all in a bunch, let me suggest some cars with similar "problems".
BMW and iDrive:
The original distracting* Car UI. Not very many buttons. At all. Requires looking away from the road for a VERY long time. Especially true during radio station changes.
Audi and MMI:
More buttons than iDrive, but still very distracting*.
Lexus:
Mainly touchscreen. Not much tactile feedback at all. Also distracting*, but less so than MMI and iDrive.
Volt:
Only a select few real buttons (like lexus, but with less), but a high mounted touchscreen and highly visible buttons seem like they would help. Distracting*, but it seems better than at least BMW and Audi, and possibly Lexus. At least there are separate "buttons".
I am not trying to say this is a lux-car beater, but it makes some sense, just not as much as tactile buttons.
*Distracting, in this sense, is compared to "normal" car UI's.
Wouldn't traditional analog dial gauges be more appropriate? I would think that less lights in the interior ('LCD panels') would increase battery life. It would only be a little, but isn't that what this whole exercise is about...extracting as much as possible from the batteries?
Andre, capacitive switches and LEDs would more likely draw less current than analog guages, switches, and incadescent bulbs and last a lot longer which may be one reason the Volt is considering this technology. There are better ways to design the surface so that finding buttons without looking is easier but still use capacitive wisely.
Photo Comments (Page 1 of 1)
AJB (09/16/08 @ 02:16PM)
It needs physical buttons with tactile feedback. If those buttons on the console are indeed the touch sensitive buttons similar to those on my cellular phone, they will be too difficult to use in a car. Too slippery, no tactile feedback, no finding buttons by touch.
FThorn (09/16/08 @ 02:34PM)
Black on white is good for (us) low-light vision-impaired folks!!!!! Yay!!!
KC (09/16/08 @ 06:53PM)
can't say I love the buttons, they seem to be randomly placed and smooth touch sensitive buttons in a car is a very bad idea.... most distracting car ever. So many states and countries want to ban use of cell phones in cars; this cars controls will be MUCH more distracting then using a cell phone.
GM says it iPod inspired interior, but it is actually the total opposite of an iPod. An iPod is simple, intuitive and has a minimalist theme, this thing's center stack is the busiest thing I've ever seen. I mean what the hell is the point of a center stack touch screen if they are still going to put more buttons then a computer keyboard underneath it?
Steve (09/16/08 @ 10:22PM)
Agree with AJB on needing physical buttons that you can feel (and press) WITHOUT having to take your eyes off the road to figure out where the buttons are!!
MastrCake (09/16/08 @ 11:57PM)
Before you guys get your panties all in a bunch, let me suggest some cars with similar "problems".
BMW and iDrive:
The original distracting* Car UI. Not very many buttons. At all. Requires looking away from the road for a VERY long time. Especially true during radio station changes.
Audi and MMI:
More buttons than iDrive, but still very distracting*.
Lexus:
Mainly touchscreen. Not much tactile feedback at all. Also distracting*, but less so than MMI and iDrive.
Volt:
Only a select few real buttons (like lexus, but with less), but a high mounted touchscreen and highly visible buttons seem like they would help. Distracting*, but it seems better than at least BMW and Audi, and possibly Lexus. At least there are separate "buttons".
I am not trying to say this is a lux-car beater, but it makes some sense, just not as much as tactile buttons.
*Distracting, in this sense, is compared to "normal" car UI's.
Andre (09/17/08 @ 09:57AM)
Wouldn't traditional analog dial gauges be more appropriate? I would think that less lights in the interior ('LCD panels') would increase battery life. It would only be a little, but isn't that what this whole exercise is about...extracting as much as possible from the batteries?
Gardner (09/19/08 @ 09:58AM)
Andre, capacitive switches and LEDs would more likely draw less current than analog guages, switches, and incadescent bulbs and last a lot longer which may be one reason the Volt is considering this technology. There are better ways to design the surface so that finding buttons without looking is easier but still use capacitive wisely.