The Size Of Touchscreens Is Getting Ridiculous!

[DwightFrye]

I find about a 10" touchscreen to be optimum. And how well it works is all about how it is programmed. I really like the screen in my Mazda CX 5 but it isn't really a touchscreen all the time. For example when moving, the touch function is disabled. Not a big deal to be as I can go through the menus with their "command knob" feature. What I don't like is how bright it is at night, and you have to go through several menu steps to turn it off. A simple on/off button would have been easy enough to design in.

On the other hand, the touch screen on my Jaguar has to be used for many, many features and it is not very intuitive. The one thing I do like about it though is you can set up your home screen with just your favorite functions and one option is an on/off touch icon that turns off the screen, and to turn it back on all you have to do is touch anywhere on the screen.

Ar least the HVAC controls are all manual switches and dials and can be operated without looking with muscle memory like drivers did for about 90 years prior to all this touch screen nonsense. Kudos to Mazda also for their HVAC controls too.

 

[JohnnyG]

I hate those big center display screens, they just look terrible , especially the ones that look like they are glued on to the top of the dash, like an afterthought.
Mercedes has the right idea in the E and S class cars. Some of the other models though, like the C Class is just a panel.

 

[MNgopher]

Especially in below zero climates.

And yet the screen in my 5+ year old F150 soldiers on just fine... As does every screen in our work trucks. Not been a failure point across a fleet of over 250 trucks in a "below zero climate"...

 

[930.engineering]

Dealing with my Mini Cooper's very basic radio (>10 years old tech) when using phone compared to my 2018 GTI's 8" high-res touchscreen I do know what I prefer, and that's to a very large extent. Those members hating touchscreens should try using a Mini's "Radio Boost" system before complaining about touchscreens. Not every car with a touchscreen is the same useability or ease of use. My GTI still has two knobs left and right of the screen, hard buttons for HVAC, seat heaters etc.. What's wrong with that? Admitted, Teslas use to be complicated to use. The problem with huge touchscreens isn't the size itself, but the issue, that hard knobs are disappearing.

 

[PWMDMD]

I have a 10" on my Kenwood and I don't look at it anymore than I need to or I would've if it was a 5". I think we're all past the point of being so impressed with screen size that we feel the need to stare at it while driving unless you're attempting something stupid like watching a movie while driving. I do like bigger screen because it allows larger button with more room between the buttons and that to me takes LESS time for me to find and input something into the screen.

 

[NitroM3]

People will find pretty much any means to distract themselves while driving, it’s not exclusive to cell phones/giant infotainment screens.

This is so accurate! Most people even on this forum will buy a new vehicle and never read the owners manual. Then while driving down the road try to figure out how something works or look for a control to adjust something. Maybe in the near future states or the Feds will revise a nation wide basic requirement for Driver training which will include at basic testing when you get a new vehicles before you can use it on the road. Maybe for any vehicle like 2025 and newer. I also think that there should be higher fines for those violating cell phone operation.
I am sure there will be a case soon that somebody in CA will be cited for distracted driving. If it already has not been done and we just have not read or seen it on a the www yet? It would be under the blanket citation DISTRACTED DRIVING"! I know from personal experience having gotten one myself. In CA if someone(girl friend or wife) is.... well...um.... lets say resting in your lap while you are driving and you get pulled over....it a distracted driving citation.

 

[Pew]

You know you don't have to look at the screen?

 

[Gimpy1]

Don't mean to derail this but if you can't parallel park you shouldn't be allowed to drive. When I took my first drivers exam they made you parallel park, I had no problem but I did fail my first test because I stopped past a stop sign, doh!

I can parallel park but having a neck injury and only 1 arm from and accident makes it extremely difficult, so you're saying I shouldn't drive? Thats like saying if you can't drive a stick you shouldn't drive. People on this forum need to stop hating new technology, the world is not going to stop changing because you don't like certain things. News flash manual transmissions are going away, rotary phones are gone, newspapers are going away, ICE cars are going away. Society changes and evolves whether you like it or not.

 

[NitroM3]

Dealing with my Mini Cooper's very basic radio (>10 years old tech) when using phone compared to my 2018 GTI's 8" high-res touchscreen I do know what I prefer, and that's to a very large extent. Those members hating touchscreens should try using a Mini's "Radio Boost" system before complaining about touchscreens. Not every car with a touchscreen is the same useability or ease of use. My GTI still has two knobs left and right of the screen, hard buttons for HVAC, seat heaters etc.. What's wrong with that? Admitted, Teslas use to be complicated to use. The problem with huge touchscreens isn't the size itself, but the issue, that hard knobs are disappearing.

Well if you have problems with a MINI you are never going to drive one of mine MINI's....

 

[PimTac]

What I don't like is how bright it is at night, and you have to go through several menu steps to turn it off.

Are your settings set to auto brightness?

 

[PimTac]

Do you know Mazda may not agree … read up

I imagine they will adopt whatever technology Toyota comes up with. They already have smart interiors. Not available in the US though.

 

[2heeldrive]

Touch screens are distracting. But so are mobile phones. It's why most of cars now come with lane departure warning, automatic braking, pre-collision detection/warning, etc. And that's a good thing. I see so many people driving along looking at their phones.

 

[4WD]

I imagine they will adopt whatever technology Toyota comes up with. They already have smart interiors. Not available in the US though.

They made an announcement in 2019 that they would disable some features and then long term move in the hands free direction … seems already that the most common things are heading that way …
OEM’s are torn over this because it’s easy to plug and play in the factory … (think FWD) and cheap thrills for sales … but the safety internal/external folks are not going away …
Some use it more for controls … other as a monitor …

 

[IndyIan]

Ar least the HVAC controls are all manual switches and dials and can be operated without looking with muscle memory like drivers did for about 90 years prior to all this touch screen nonsense. Kudos to Mazda also for their HVAC controls too.

This was a selling feature for us, as I don't want to try to find a working screen 12 years from now just to use the HVAC... Really the only thing useful thing our screen does, is keep a google map going showing the kids "how much farther?!" we have to go on a trip. The odd time we'll do hands free phone calls but that doesn't really need a screen either.

 

[JeffKeryk]

My gripe is the content of the screen. Our Model 3 has the blind spot turn signal function on the center screen. Once you have had the BSM on the outside mirrors, you are spoiled. Much better.
Controlling vehicle functionality with voice commands is, by far, the better way to go.

 

[tcp71]

My only concern with the huge screens is that I feel they make the dash look ridiculous. It's just hard to integrate them well.

Exactly. If it's integrated into the area where controls usually are, it is functionally the same as knobs and sliders. When it's stacked on top of the dash like a cheap afterthought, i find them ridiculous. Pathetic industrial design.

 

[Duffyjr]

I can parallel park but having a neck injury and only 1 arm from and accident makes it extremely difficult, so you're saying I shouldn't drive?

No sir, you said you can parallel park, I was referring to those that can't.

 

[CKN]

That’s a poor attempt at correlation … Not sure how you wound up so judgmental - but it’s almost daily, huh ?
… this member raised what some see as a genuine safety issue … But for you, silly ?

The collision avoidance systems-which ADD TO SAFETY have also been bashed on here. So there goes your argument about safety concerns.

 

[RooflessVW]

No sir, you said you can parallel park, I was referring to those that can't.

Why do you care wether a human or robot parallel parks?

Humans have been automating arduous or annoying tasks for ages.

 

[RooflessVW]

Well if you have problems with a MINI you are never going to drive one of mine MINI's....

Wow you went full JC Whitney