If you find the touchscreen controls in your car confusing and annoying, rest assured: you're not alone.
The Real Reason New Cars Have Touchscreens
Cars, like every other product category, have been taken over by touchscreens. Instead of one knob for the air conditioning, another for the music volume, and so on, we have one screen that does it all, a screen that you have to look at every time you use it instead of just reaching over and turning a dial on your mental autopilot. According to a new study from J.D. Power, owners aren’t happy. So why is this happening? And what can you do about it?
"In my experience, people like tactile feedback: pushing buttons, turning knobs. Trying to navigate a touchscreen at 70 mph to change the air conditioning or seat is neither intuitive nor safe. It's like texting while driving, and we know that's sketchy. Physical controls are easier and safer without having to take your eyes off the road. So fancy touchscreens may save money, but they compromise convenience and safety," Robert Walden, mechanic, car enthusiast and founder of VehicleFreak, told Lifewire via email.
First, let’s look at why touchscreens have taken over. There seem to be two reasons. First, touchscreens are seen as a luxury and high-tech option compared to boring old-fashioned buttons and knobs. But that alone wouldn’t be enough to explain the wholesale switch to touch in cars, thermostats, and pretty much every other gadget.
