Mercedes shuns a return to physical buttons

[190]

I thought that there was the beginning of an industry trend that touch screens have been a little overdone and a return to essential driving controls as physical buttons was needed. It seems Mercedes doesn't agree and instead

"will go to seamless screens from left to right.in order to" ..... "create stunning visualisation for us to be really immersive."

But I don't want to be immersed in a screen, I want to drive the car.

Sounds like me and Mercedes will going in different directions

Mercedes doubles down on mega screens | Autocar

 

[MeQ]

Which buttons not being there are going to stop you driving the car?

 

[kam09]

The facelift golf gti has gone back to buttons on the steering wheel after customer feedback.. its something at least..

 

[kam09]

I can't see mb ever listening to customer feedback even tho touchscreens for every control inside the vehicle are bloody dangerous!

 

[markjay]

Which buttons not being there are going to stop you driving the car?

There are buttons that I use while driving, heated seats for example, when it's not a physical switch that you can operate without taking your eyes off the road, I find that I have to wait for a traffic light or another stop before I can dedicate the attention required for operating a virtual switch. Not a major issue, but this is why I personally prefer physical switches.

 

[Germgh0st]

There are buttons that I use while driving, heated seats for example, when it's not a physical switch that you can operate without taking your eyes off the road, I find that I have to wait for a traffic light or another stop before I can dedicate the attention required for operating a virtual switch. Not a major issue, but this is why I personally prefer physical switches.

This was one of the things that annoyed my on my M340i, the heated seat controls take a couple of screen touches. But the voice control is actually really good so one press on a steering wheel button and the right command and I don't need to touch anything else.

 

[MeQ]

There are buttons that I use while driving, heated seats for example, when it's not a physical switch that you can operate without taking your eyes off the road, I find that I have to wait for a traffic light or another stop before I can dedicate the attention required for operating a virtual switch. Not a major issue, but this is why I personally prefer physical switches.

Heated seats are still a physical button on the new platform although they are available on the screen too. I think they also work with Hey Mercedes.

 

[slade1]

Agree with kam09. A few weeks ago I had a ride in a Tesla.
In certain light conditions the huge Ipad screen was invisible, nothing but finger/smear marks
When you could see the screen the was far too much unnecessary information and most functions were via the screen.
Buttons and levers more expensive ££££ to produce?
No thanks will keep CLK, no residual problems and may actually increase in value. The M272 motor makes a nice noise
when wound up.

 

[TC350]

I’m of the same opinion in that I dislike touch screens (although I’m using one now to type this). But, my facelift W204 has over 50 physical buttons for the driver to use - and I rarely touch any of them other than the seat memory button when I get into the car after my wife has driven it. It shouldn’t bother me if everything is controlled by a touch screen.

In recent years I’ve watched/read many car reviews where the main complaint has been about the distracting process of adjusting the heating via a touch screen. Why adjust the heating in a modern car? Thermostats do all the work for you. All three zones in my car are set at 21 degrees and that’s where they stay, no matter what the weather. The car won’t heat up or cool down to the desired temperature any faster if the controls are wound right up or down.

Most operations in the car are automatic, so there’s little or no need to fiddle.

 

[markjay]

Heated seats are still a physical button on the new platform although they are available on the screen too. I think they also work with Hey Mercedes.

Understood.

On my car (not a Merc), the rear heated seats have physical switches (presumably the manufacturer saved on the cost of an LCD display at the rear), but the front heated seats can only be operated from the car's touchscreen menus, which I find distracting, especially when following a route on the navigation system.

At any rate, this was only an example why I prefer physical switches.

 

[GeeJayW]

Earlier last year we replaced our ageing VW Golf for a ‘22-Plate Tiguan which has a touchscreen ‘infotainment’ system. It looks very nice, but using the screen whilst driving eg for sat-nav functions, is very distracting. it’s also quite quirky, but that’s another story.

I still don’t understand how the widespread adoption of touchscreen technology as a replacement for tactile physical switches for commonly accessed functions/features ever got signed off.

 

[NJSS]

We all know that it’s illegal to touch, hold or use a phone, sat nav, tablet, while driving and even when

• stopped at traffic lights
• queuing in traffic
• supervising a learner driver
• driving a car that turns off the engine when you stop moving ("Stop/Start")
• holding and using a device that’s offline or in flight mode

It seems absurd that one can, and in many cases must use a (mega) screen on the car to perform basic or essential functions.

This is particularly absurd when that mega screen mirrors the screen on one's mobile 'phone enabling one to use all the functions including making calls, using a sat nav app. etc....

 

[slade1]

Agree TC350, have not touched the AC controls for years on CLK, it's on auto.

 

[markjay]

We all know that it’s illegal to touch, hold or use a phone, sat nav, tablet, while driving and even when

• stopped at traffic lights
• queuing in traffic
• supervising a learner driver
• driving a car that turns off the engine when you stop moving ("Stop/Start")
• holding and using a device that’s offline or in flight mode

It seems absurd that one can, and in many cases must use a (mega) screen on the car to perform basic or essential functions.

This is particularly absurd when that mega screen mirrors the screen on one's mobile 'phone enabling one to use all the functions including making calls, using a sat nav app. etc....

There's an (unfounded) underlying assumption that systems designed by car manufacturers and built-in into their cars will have gone through the relevant safety and ergonomic vetting process.

The same applies to Apple CarPlay and and Android Auto, again there's an assumption that we can rely on Apple and Google (respectively) to ensure that their design is safe to use while driving.

But in reality there's no ISO standard or UN Directive etc that covers the specifications for HMI (Human Machine Interface) for automotive infotainment systems.

Instead, operating built-in infotainment systems while driving simply falls under the generic legal definition of the requirement to 'drive with due care and attention' at all times.

This is probably a legacy from the two-knob AM radio of the sixties, where it was just common sense not to take the eyes off the road when tuning the radio. But things have become much more complicated since... and regulation didn't catch-up.

 

[Germgh0st]

We all know that it’s illegal to touch, hold or use a phone, sat nav, tablet, while driving and even when

• stopped at traffic lights
• queuing in traffic
• supervising a learner driver
• driving a car that turns off the engine when you stop moving ("Stop/Start")
• holding and using a device that’s offline or in flight mode

It seems absurd that one can, and in many cases must use a (mega) screen on the car to perform basic or essential functions.

This is particularly absurd when that mega screen mirrors the screen on one's mobile 'phone enabling one to use all the functions including making calls, using a sat nav app. etc....

It's not illegal to touch it, only to use it whilst holding it. Otherwise how would you answer a call?

 

[ToeKnee]

I have a lot of buttons to control the climate control in my Mondeo, but, they're so small that, if I ever needed to make changes, I still have to take my eyes off the road to press any of them! But, clever old me, I adjust what I want before I set off!!! Want heated seats? Turn them on before driving away. Want the temperature at 21°? Set it before driving off. Rarely do I need to change anything whilst I'm driving.

 

[NJSS]

It's not illegal to touch it, only to use it whilst holding it. Otherwise how would you answer a call?

Sorry - sadly I'm right !

"You are not allowed to touch your phone for any reason. If you really need to handle your phone, stop in a safe place and turn the car’s engine off."

Source:-

The 2024 UK law on using a mobile phone when driving

Read up on the latest New phone laws while driving 2024 UK which close loopholes and impose harder-hitting penalties.

www.parkers.co.uk

"Holding and using a phone or any other electronic device that can send or receive data while driving is illegal. That refers specifically to using the device with your hands, whether online, offline or flight mode. "
Source: Mobile phone use while driving – Laws and penalties in the UK

 

[Germgh0st]

Sorry - sadly I'm right !

"You are not allowed to touch your phone for any reason. If you really need to handle your phone, stop in a safe place and turn the car’s engine off."

Source:-

The 2024 UK law on using a mobile phone when driving

Read up on the latest New phone laws while driving 2024 UK which close loopholes and impose harder-hitting penalties.

www.parkers.co.uk

"Holding and using a phone or any other electronic device that can send or receive data while driving is illegal. That refers specifically to using the device with your hands, whether online, offline or flight mode. "
Source: Mobile phone use while driving – Laws and penalties in the UK

I think it's the way it's worded - you're not allowed to touch your device while holding it.

Using a phone, sat nav or other device when driving

It’s illegal to hold a phone or a sat nav while driving - you'll get penalty points, a fine and can be banned from driving.

www.gov.uk

 

[markjay]

I think it's the way it's worded - you're not allowed to touch your device while holding it.

Using a phone, sat nav or other device when driving

It’s illegal to hold a phone or a sat nav while driving - you'll get penalty points, a fine and can be banned from driving.

www.gov.uk

This is what it says, agreed. And I suppose that the correct and legal way to make or take calls in these circumstances would be by using voice commands only.

The funny thing, though, is that you can touch-click 'accept' on the car's infotainment system, but not on the mobile phone.

 

[StMarks]

I think it's the way it's worded - you're not allowed to touch your device while holding it.

Using a phone, sat nav or other device when driving

It’s illegal to hold a phone or a sat nav while driving - you'll get penalty points, a fine and can be banned from driving.

www.gov.uk

Despite the tightening up of the rules, using hand held phones still seems shockingly prolific. I personally see the practice numerous times, more than once every day.!
What really baffles me, is that a large proportion of those guilty are driving cars that are high end/newer models that almost certainly will have phone connectivity built in.
Why .????