Ford putting buttons back on Dash

[Tbars4]

Punished by third-party quality reports because of the difficulty of using its touch-screen multimedia system, called MyFord Touch, the auto maker will reprise tuning and volume knobs for the radio as it redesigns existing models, a top Ford executive said.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323566804578549351972660468.html

It is a reversal for Ford, which has been a first-mover with installing mobile-phone-based technologies, voice recognition and touch screens in its vehicles. The systems have been a big selling point for Ford with its vehicles, but also have dragged down its reputation for quality.

 

[meyerch5]

Boo.

i hope they install an easy hitching system for the horses also.

dont go backwards.

 

[Rick]

Just because the technology is there doesn't mean it should be used. Round wheels always roll better.... You can redesign the wheel all you want, but... round is the way to go...

 

[Anime]

It isn't just Ford, Pioneer, which makes it's own branded line of touchscreen-interface car stereos, and probably makes the Ford ones too, has had a lot of negative reviews about the difficulty of use, and how unsafe they are, even just to try and adjust the volume while driving compared to stereos with an on button and volume knob.

The voice-command stuff seems like it might be the way to go, but it doesn't do so well in vehicles with lots of passengers, where other people can give commands or the system can't tell the difference between a command and words used in conversation.