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Comment by xp84 | Hacker News Reader

UI designers who were trained in the currently-popular paradigm would be at a complete loss to design such things. "Swipe left from the home screen, tap the nothingness on the screen to reveal the controls overlay, find the ••• in one corner of the screen, tap "More" in the 3-item menu, and then tap 'Bond Quote' in the modal dialog that takes over the entire screen." Keyboard shortcuts? "Hmm... interesting idea. Never thought of that. We might add those in a V2."

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We already see this in car interfaces. Clearly designed by people that don't drive, or at the very least have not tested it themselves while driving.

I got a rental the other day and while driving could not find the clock! I had to hit TWO BUTTONS on the infotainment touchscreen panel to get back to "home" and see the gd time. I was driving on curvy roads in Yosemite too. Truly abhorrent.

> have not tested it themselves while driving.

I don't think the driver is supposed to use the touch screen while the vehicle is in motion

The corollary of which is that no function the driver might sensibly need while underway should be presented or accessed through a touch screen.

So physical levers and buttons. With some tactile feedback, such as raised lips or centre bumps or distinct shapes, so without looking the user knows which one their finger is on (third from left in the Aircon group). Displays can be present multiple items (don't need physical dials) but changing that display when driving comes back to buttons.

The grenadier interior is supposed to be great in this respect. Sort of looks like a cockpit

https://www.caranddriver.com/photos/g63743843/2023-ineos-gre...

Which is the problem, yes. It was perfectly fine to use physical buttons while driving because you don't have to look at them.

The law in the UK appears to be that is is perfectly OK to use a touch screen so long as you "stay in full control" and aren't holding the device:

https://www.gov.uk/using-mobile-phones-when-driving-the-law

NB My car has loads of features that I would expect to use while driving that can only be accessed through the touch screen.

My car has user interface elements that you would want to use while driving (e.g. to cancel the navigation guidance) that only become visible if you hold your hand in front of the screen....

My god have you ever had those people try to add keyboard shortcuts? You start to question if they have ever used a keyboard at all.

Saw this post today about ceiling fans.

what is going on with ceiling fans: https://mcmansionhell.com/post/829127919552151552/what-is-go...

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49917536

Because Bloomberg Terminals are specialist devices for power users and most apps/web sites are consumer products.

Don’t get me wrong, I get the complaint. But it’s not like the designers are unaware of more information dense alternatives.

> But it’s not like the designers are unaware of more information dense alternatives.

Strong disagree. I have been in UX reviews for products like Bloomberg terminals as the intended user. I specifically asked for information density and the designer looked at me like I was from the moon. Their counter offer was a permanent floating chatbot that covered the small amount of information still on the page. No joke. Information density is something those web designers genuinely could not comprehend.

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