I was in a sports car with a manual transmission and the driver got stuck in a rut on the side of the road. I watched her try several times to get it out. I then said I think I can do this if you will let me try.
So, got in the driver's seat, put it in first gear, let the clutch out slightly and as the car rocked up the side of the rut, pushed it in again. Rocked up the other side and let the clutch out again.
Couple of rocks and I was up and out of the rut. Standard maneuver with a manual transmission. Try doing that with an automatic transmission with a touch screen.
Some of these human-machine interfaces have been designed over decades. Some over millennia. They work because they have evolved over time to be the best way to do it.
“Couple of rocks and I was up and out of the rut. Standard maneuver with a manual transmission. Try doing that with an automatic transmission with a touch screen.”
Yes, you lose functionality with this over-complicated crap. Same with a paddle shift manual. Same with an electric parking brake which is on/off.
There is also the issue that you can teach and train people on some complicated setup, but under stress they revert to simple behaviors that are not correct for the complicated controls.
An example, a CHP officer who had a Lexus loaner car which was a runaway due to a stuck electronic throttle. Under stress, he could not figure out how to turn it off (no key, had to press and hold the start button).
The officer used the car brakes to keep it at a safe speed until the brakes burned out and failed. Then the car took off at maximum speed and everyone in that car died in the crash.
20 or so years ago a friend had borrowed my truck to do some moving stuff and left me his car. I almost broke the gear selector off before I accidently touched my foot on the brake pedal! (The designers were protecting little kids; being left in a running vehicle; from accidently pulling the car into gear and having a wreck.)
Another time I’d rented a car and when it was time for some gas; I couldn’t open the gas door.
I almost broke it when I noticed a little lever that released it.
At least I can open the hood on my Jeep; barely.
After flipping the latch (down by the floor) I have a hard time reaching the lever by the radiator as my fingers are too short.
There’s just HAS to be a special place in hell for the person who designed THAT thing!!