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Comment by pazimzadeh | Hacker News Reader

Car interiors are full of plasticky knobs that remind me of cell phone keys from 1995-2006. I think that Apple will have a lot of fun creating a new interfaces for everything inside the car, and I think they're wise enough not to try to replace all physical controls with a gigantic touch screen, unlike Tesla.

I'm hoping that many functions won't need a UI any more, such as adjusting the mirrors: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=118796...

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Well, if it’s fully autonomous as many suspect, the UI would be dramatically simplified compared to Tesla.

Passengers would only need direct access to comfort controls, media playback, and an interactive map. I wouldn’t be surprised to see just a single large touch screen on the dashboard, with Siri listening for your directions.

Tesla has physical controls on the steering wheel that access a lot of functions also available in the touch screen. HN posters who don't own Teslas often complain about the touch screen controls, while owners use the steering wheel controls.

BTW, mirror adjustment on a Tesla doesn't use the touchscreen.

You got me, I've never been in a Tesla. A quick search shows that while the Tesla S has physical controls on the steering wheel, the Tesla Model X uses touchscreen (http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6...).

I assumed that the "gigantic touchscreen" referred to in your comment is the 17" monster on the right. The Model X hasn't shipped yet, so I don't know if that photo is the final configuration.

If it is, and by "gigantic" you meant "The small, 2 inch touchscreens on the steering wheel which might be as easy to use as physical controls", then sure, we could talk about that. Seems premature right now, when the public can't try it out.

Sorry didn't mean to start an argument. You brought up the steering wheel, that's why I looked up the controls. Seems like you're right about the Model S.

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