boem@lemmy.world to Technology@lemmy.worldEnglish · 11 months agoVW Is Putting Buttons Back in Cars Because People Complained Enoughwww.thedrive.comexternal-linkmessage-square297fedilinkarrow-up11.86Karrow-down115cross-posted to: cars@lemmy.world
arrow-up11.85Karrow-down1external-linkVW Is Putting Buttons Back in Cars Because People Complained Enoughwww.thedrive.comboem@lemmy.world to Technology@lemmy.worldEnglish · 11 months agomessage-square297fedilinkcross-posted to: cars@lemmy.world
minus-squareSemi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.sociallinkfedilinkarrow-up29·11 months agoIt’s probably a cost issue. Running one wire harness to a touch screen is a lot cheaper than running a wire to every button in a car.
minus-squareEnsign_Crab@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up31arrow-down1·11 months agoIt’s also a “We can charge $900 for this $80 touchscreen when it fails in 5 years because your car is a brick without it” issue.
minus-squareDaDragon@kbin.sociallinkfedilinkarrow-up7·11 months agoI hate the fact that you’re probably right about that reason.
minus-squareSheeEttin@lemm.eelinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up0·11 months agoIs the button panel not a separate unit? I’d imagine it would have a connector to plug into the cable that runs back to whatever control system, instead of it being a bundle of individuals.
minus-squareSemi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.sociallinkfedilinkarrow-up1·11 months agoEven if it’s a subassembly there’s gonna be more connectors in it, and probably more wire since it will need to run to the various buttons. When you’re making tens of thousands of vehicles every penny counts.
minus-squareBearOfaTime@lemm.eelinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up0·11 months agoI’d say the touch screen will be just as complex, probably more. It will require the same controller hardware that’s usually in the heat/ac controller that has buttons and knobs, just controlled from a touchscreen. You’ll still have the same wiring to servos from the control unit, but you’ll also have wiring for the touchscreen and its’ computer.
minus-squareSemi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.sociallinkfedilinkarrow-up1·11 months agoBut the touchscreen itself eliminates the wiring that would be needed for buttons and knobs.
It’s probably a cost issue. Running one wire harness to a touch screen is a lot cheaper than running a wire to every button in a car.
It’s also a “We can charge $900 for this $80 touchscreen when it fails in 5 years because your car is a brick without it” issue.
I hate the fact that you’re probably right about that reason.
Is the button panel not a separate unit? I’d imagine it would have a connector to plug into the cable that runs back to whatever control system, instead of it being a bundle of individuals.
Even if it’s a subassembly there’s gonna be more connectors in it, and probably more wire since it will need to run to the various buttons.
When you’re making tens of thousands of vehicles every penny counts.
I’d say the touch screen will be just as complex, probably more.
It will require the same controller hardware that’s usually in the heat/ac controller that has buttons and knobs, just controlled from a touchscreen.
You’ll still have the same wiring to servos from the control unit, but you’ll also have wiring for the touchscreen and its’ computer.
But the touchscreen itself eliminates the wiring that would be needed for buttons and knobs.