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Touchscreens Are Out, and Tactile Controls Are Back

spectrum.ieee.org Q&A: Rachel Plotnick On the Return of Tactile Controls

Rachel Plotnick's "re-buttonization" expertise is in demand

Q&A: Rachel Plotnick On the Return of Tactile Controls
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  • Touchscreens can stay, but only for non-essential tasks like changing settings or entering addresses. Climate, media, and all other controls you usually use while driving should be tactile by mandate.

    • Here's my rule: Anything in my Chevy S10 that you control by turning a knob, moving a lever, or momentarily push a button? That needs to be a physical control in a car. Anything where you push and hold a button, or mash a button multiple times (like setting the clock or turning off the DRLs respectively) can be moved to a settings menu in a touch screen. These things shouldn't be done while moving.

      And no, touch sensitive single-function panels like the climate controls in my father's Avalon are not good enough, it needs to be a mechanical control that you can feel for without activating.

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