Cars are rapidly changing, and almost everything about them is becoming digital. For the most part, this shift to digital is beneficial. It provides better remote control capabilities, a sleeker dashboard design, and more.
However, it feels like car manufacturers might be taking things a bit too far. It’s understandable to have digital controls for things like audio playback and mood lighting, but it feels excessive when basic functions like climate control are only accessible through a digital interface.
Digital controls can be done correctly though, and my experience driving the Lucid Air demonstrated that. The main issue with digital controls in cars is that they can be unsafe. When you should be focusing on the road, having to navigate through a screen because you’re cold is dangerous.
Car companies want your attention on their interface rather than on CarPlay or Android Auto. They include these interfaces due to customer demands, but there’s a hidden battle for your attention. If car companies can keep you engaged with their systems, they can potentially get you to subscribe to more features or spend money within their software.
This has led to car companies becoming more like software companies. They’ve been creating software for years, but it hasn’t always been good or impactful. Apple and Google, in comparison, have developed easy-to-use software for nearly two decades. Companies like Tesla and Lucid have taken advantage of this by adopting not just the skills but also the lessons learned from software giants.
Traditional automakers are starting to understand this shift but still have a long way to go. Major car companies have been focusing more on software in recent years, but even big players like Ford face challenges. For example, the interface in the Mach-E isn’t bad, but it suffers from slow processing, which can be critical in fast-paced driving situations.
Lucid Air’s user experience sets a positive example. Adjusting climate controls is straightforward, thanks to a dedicated software tab for climate settings. A large button makes navigation easy, and you can change the temperature and fan speed without much effort.
Lucid also understands the importance of physical controls. Both the driver and passenger have simple, tactile controls for fan speed and temperature, which require only a quick glance to use.
Lucid didn’t have to include physical controls since their software is well-designed. Even so, they have adopted tactile feedback similar to smartphones, making sure drivers know they’re pressing a button without needing to look at the screen.
The Lucid Air shows that a good balance between physical and digital controls is achievable. Other companies should take note. Essential settings like audio playback and climate controls should be easily accessible from any screen in the car’s interface. If these controls don’t have physical counterparts, there should be feedback, like haptic or audio, to confirm a button press without needing to look. Also, button presses should be instant. Cars need sufficient processing power to handle software updates over time.
Safety should be the priority for car companies aspiring to be software companies. Drivers shouldn’t need to stare at a screen to adjust basic settings, as it distracts from the road and increases risk. Until fully self-driving cars are a reality, manufacturers need to do better in creating safer and more user-friendly interfaces.