[Red Bread]

Click wheels are awesome if you have a tiny screen and stupidly slow interfaces. Touch screens are so much better and no car will have an MMI/iDrive interface In a few years.

[RM7]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Click wheels are awesome if you have a tiny screen and stupidly slow interfaces. Touch screens are so much better and no car will have an MMI/iDrive interface In a few years.

I gotta disagree with that, for the same reason I disagree with touch screens in airplanes. They are not the right interface for situations where you are moving and experiencing G-forces and diverting attention on a main task. There is typically no positive feedback and even if there is (like a phone that vibrates when you touch the screen), it's still not as good feedback as an actual button or knob. The older BMW I-drive was pretty darn good, quick...quick and accurate. That's what I want out of an interface like that. Touchscreens have been way way more problematic for me in vehicles than helpful. I appreciate the ability to declutter and streamline with some devices, like phones and tablets, but that doesn't make them perfect interfaces for every situation. Too many ergonomic issues for safety critical situations.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by RM7

I gotta disagree with that, for the same reason I disagree with touch screens in airplanes. They are not the right interface for situations where you are moving and experiencing G-forces and diverting attention on a main task.

The steering wheel and gear lever are what you need in high g situations. If you're using the climate controls or changing songs, you're doing it wrong.