If you’re driving a new car, you’ve probably noticed that big shiny touchscreen taking up most of your dashboard. It’s like having a giant iPad glued to your car, except it can’t play Candy Crush.
But hold on to your seats because car companies are planning to get RID of those touchscreens! I know, I know, it sounds crazy. But hear me out.
According to Slate.com, car companies are bringing back more buttons and knobs because we WANT them. Yes, you heard that right. We actually WANT more buttons and knobs in our cars.
You see, touchscreens might seem like the cool, fancy option, but they’re actually the cheapest. I mean, some screens cost as little as $50 per screen! That’s less than a tank of gas for some cars. But having all your controls on a touchscreen can be dangerous. It’s basically like texting-and-driving, which we all know is a big no-no. One expert even pointed out how weird it is that we all complain about people using their phones while driving, but no one bats an eye at people using an iPad while driving.
That’s where buttons and knobs come in. They’re much easier to find without having to take your eyes off the road. It’s something us younger drivers are just starting to realize.
So car companies are starting to switch back to good old-fashioned buttons and knobs. Even Hyundai, one of the few companies that hasn’t fully embraced touchscreens, is on board. Their lead designer even predicts that buttons and knobs could be gone for good once our cars become fully autonomous.
But until then, let’s enjoy the satisfying click of a button and the smooth turn of a knob. It’s like we’re living in the 90s again, except this time we’re driving cars that practically drive themselves.
