On User Interfaces

User interfaces can be a tricky business. Here we have some ideas and considerations regarding effective user interface design and things to avoid. Always remember to consider things from the view point of the user, and don't just do something that's easy for you, the programmer, to implement.
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[@crochambeau]

A few well positioned mechanical controls that the end user can assign to desired functions would be nice. Does not address terrible MPH placement on the main screen, but even that could be configurable with "skin" packages - if the manufacturer saw fit to offer such customization. I would think that to be a selling point.. I'm hanging on to my old manual car, even though it's modern enough that turn signal lights are non relay computer controlled, and the computer has decided right front turn lamp is open (even though it's not) resulting in me appearing as one of "those" people when conducting right hand turns into a street that has someone waiting for me to clear.

[@haraldlonn898]

Yeah my new car has all these things to and I think it is done so that you need lane control / assist and collission control so you don¨t mess up in trafic. TG the light in the center consol can be turned of so I can se the road when it¨s dark. Also the dash display can be turned down but not enough. My old car had a button called nigh light. It turned every lamp of exept for the speed and it was very dim. Now I feel you are not driving your car but just be there for the ride. Not good. I have been driving for almost 50 years and seen things go from bad to better and now to something complete useless. worse than bad. Thanks for highlithing this, I was thinking am I the only grumpy guy when it comes to modern cars. Great videos.

[@ElectronicswithProfessorFiore]

I understand totally. I have owned only 5-speed manuals up until this car. It's weird enough having nothing for my left foot to do. There are things I really do like but there are aspects of the old designs that I think have better ergonomics. I suspect that some of the new stuff is pushed by marketing folks to create an "Oh, wow" factor to show how "modern" the item is, even though the design may not be as effective. I have never believed in change just for the sake of change. I will say that I look forward to the day when self driving cars are superior to the average human driver. It would be nice to get in and say "Take me to X" and not have to shake your head at all of the people who don't use their turn signals, run stop signs, change lanes like they're fighting off a rabid bat, and so forth.

[@ats89117]

You should to be able to control things by voice, like in 2001 A Space Odyssey which came out in 1968...

[@ElectronicswithProfessorFiore]

So instead of "Open the pod bay doors, HAL", it's "Turn on the heated seats, HAL"? ;-) I must admit that I am a little paranoid about voice control, mainly because I can imagine saying something to a passenger (or myself) that the voice control system would interpret as a command.

[@ats89117]

​@@ElectronicswithProfessorFiore I've been waiting for 55 years to have a real conversation with a computer which includes the following statement: "I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over."