In the automotive space I’d argue there has been a UX regression as they went pure touch screen for some models.
0: https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-geneva-motor-...
1: https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/11/navy-ditches-touchscreens-...
Anecdotally, I bought a used 2019 Corolla recently and the "maintenance needed" alert that beeped and flashed while I was driving down the highway scared the crap out of me. It turned out that it was merely reminding me to get my oil changed, I couldn't believe it. It was so much less polished of an experience than I was used to with the 'Yota.
It's also possible to do great touchscreen UIs. I'd hate if my phone had t9 keyboard.
Resistive touchscreens are used because they can be manipulated by people wearing gloves, something that is certainly common in automotive scenarios.
However, they've invested in this in the past decade, and if there's going to be a UX resurgence, it's going to be in the automobile sector, as their teams are maturing more and more.
I can't say I see this at all. Even their tactile controls are generally a mess.
Controls as basic as window wipers or headlights seem to be different for ever car for no discernible advantage.
A different 'start' mechanism for every car is actually quite a nightmare. I once spent 20 minutes in a car park trying to figure out how to get the damn thing to start, even their own instructions didn't say how!
I've driven a bunch of cars, over the years. I haven't seen too many different mechanisms.
What have you seen on modern cars that's different than make sure it's in park or neutral (or clutch pedal depressed) and turn the key, or for keyless make sure it's in park or neutral (or clutch in), press the brake and push the button? And if the key battery is low, press the button with the key.
I've driven some older vehicles where you turned the key to enable ignition, but had a separate starter button, and some vehicles with ignition locks that didn't work, so you could turn the ignition without a key. And some cars with keys go off -> accessories -> ignition -> starter vs accessories <- off -> ignition -> starter. If the key retention in the switch/lock is broken, sometimes it's tricky to make sure you pull the key out in off instead of accessories.
1. It had a fob that worked as a key, but it didn’t look like a key and the key slot didn’t look like where the fob should go.
2. You set the handbrake using the left foot, but release it with a pull handle with your right hand!
Both were unintuitive, and would catch out some people (I am generally well above average in working out how to use execrable user interfaces).
The worst UI is often to release the door to fill fuel. More than once I’ve needed to ask for help on unfamiliar cars, and multiple people also not knowing how.
Hurley and Behnken worked with SpaceX to "refine the way that you interface with the touchscreen and the way your touch is actually registered on the display in order to be able to fly it cleanly and not make mistakes touching it," Hurley said.
Scary imo.
In the aviation world, owners are spending $50,000 upgrading their trainer Cessnas and Pipers to do exactly that.
I'm still good with a paper sectional chart.