Is The Conventional Dashboard COMPLETELY Obsolete In Today's World?

GIVE ME a outdated design that is reliable any day. Simple is best.

don't want the POS that Tesla and others put in their cars...so the gov't, hackers, and big business can spy on you.

I'm not joking...i prefer a CD player/old style AM/FM radio..and a map book.

Don't need NO navi system to show me all the malls before taking me to my destination.
Don't need NO touchscreen..i prefer the round dials. Don't need TPMS..i just look at my tires.

I survive well before all this tech bullshit...and will survive without it! if you need all of these tech POS in your car...you shouldn't be driving!!! Thank you!

I would much rather have a simple interior with simple knobs and buttons than a technological tour de force that makes the car disposable the minute the technology fails. Consider this: A technologically advanced dashboard is immediately becoming outdated the minute it is put on sale and will be outdated in a matter of a few years. yet, a conventional dashboard from 50 years ago is still competent and not outdated even today.

AMEN BROTHER...AMEN.....

AMEN BROTHER...AMEN.....

In the old days, I used to be able to turn down the bass on that too-boomy song as follows:
(1) Turn a dial to left

In today's technologically advanced dashboard, I do the following:
(1) Press the Radio button
(2) Look at the screen to identify the available options
(3) Press the Sound soft-key
(4) Look at the screen to identify the available options
(5) Turn the Dial to the Tone selection
(6) Press the dial to make my selection
(7) Look at the screen to identify the available options
(8) Turn the dial to the Bass parameter
(9) Press the dial to make my selection
(10) Turn the dial to reduce the bass
(11) Press the dial to save my value
(12) Press the Back button multiple times to back out to the main screen

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In the old days, when I wanted to change which air vents would emit air (windscreen, mid/face, low/feet), I would do the following:
(1) Look at the dash
(2) Press a button for low/feet to turn that air flow off

In today's technologically advanced dashboard, I do the following:
(1) Look at the dash
(2) Press the Air Flow button
(3) Look at the screen to see 15 tiny, similar looking icons depicting possible combinations of windscreen/mid/low, and identify which one I want
(4) Look at the screen to determine my current setting, and ascertain if I need to turn the dial clockwise or counterclockwise to go from my current setting to my desired setting
(5) Turn the dial while watching the screen, and stop when it points to my desired icon
(6) Press the dial to make my selection

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Do you need any more examples to show you why the modern, technologically advanced dashboard and computer screen is inherently worse for real-time use while driving? It takes the driver's eyes and attention off the road and diverts it to futzing around through layers of menus and steps, just to accomplish simple tasks. Not to mention, it takes *longer* to get something done.

However, manufacturers did accomplish their desired objectives:
(1) Minimize the number of controls on the dashboard for a more sparse look (fashion over function)
(2) Capture the audience that is enamored by tech for tech's sake

The eyes off the road aspect it the #1 reason I think touch screens etc are wrong. I agree.

Personally, I am old school.

I LOVE simple cars.

But, I have to admit, when I am driving an S550 and it's taking care of me in bumper-to-bumper traffic, I am not hating it.

The level of technophobia on display here is quite amusing. I suppose there will always be those longing for the "good old days". Actually, there are many excellent modern UI's including the Chrysler Uconnect, the latest Mercedes Command, the excellent and easy to use system in the Tesla and others. There's certainly no going back.

runninglogan1: You're missing a big point. Technology, in and of itself, is neither good nor bad. What it does for you, and how it implements that functionality, makes a huge difference, regardless if it's old-school or new school.

It is NOT better to take 12 steps to execute a process instead of 1, even if you love tech, and those 12 steps are the "new and improved" way of doing things. The only people who'll disagree with this is those who love tech, and don't care that something is now more complex, more distracting to the driver, and less intuitive... because they love techy stuff.

Technology has made some massive improvements, such as:
- ABS over conventional brakes (enhances vehicular control during emergency braking, and shortens stopping distances in most cases)
- Fuel injection over carbs (reduced fuel consumption, reduced emissions, smoother running)
- CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing -- Structural strength increases while reducing materials and weight, increases occupant safety while reducing fuel consumption).

Where tech has not fared so well is in automotive user-interface design, and that's what we're talking about. It's NOT a matter of pro-tech vs anti-tech. It's all a matter of having some amazing tools at our disposal, and doing a crappy job at implementing them.

In the old days, you used to read car magazines and just read them. And/or mail in your opinions on an article by writing a letter, putting it in an envelope, and putting a stamp on it. Then wait a whole month or two to see if your letter got published by the magazine.

I hear no complaints about being about to hop onto broadband/WiFi internet (on a smartphone or tablet, nonetheless), without the dial-up whoas, get on a website, see the latest car news, and post your opinions immediately.

Gee - it is amazing what you all consider to be "Old School". Sorry - but you don't know "Old school". My first car was a 1929 6cylinder Chevrolet - the year Chevy overtook the Model T as the worlds best selling car. And it simply did not have most of what you are talking about - no radio - no heater - no Tach - Column shifted standard trans - it had all that you needed - 4 wheels on the ground and one for you to steer with - and a Speedometer.

However - I certainly do like several of the features they have added since - power steering - power brakes - radio - heater - and lots of others. I would agree that the U-Connect system in my 2015 Chrysler seems a lot better than most people describe. One feature I really really like is the rear View Camera - makes the MiniVan much easier to parallel park (Yes - they still do that here) I can change my channel on the radio in the U-Connect by speaking to the thing - don't need to look at it at all. I have never used the Nav - it is frustratingly easy to get it lost. So I do use maps - but eventually they will fix too. DO you believe it - my Chevy had the ability to use a crank start - just in case the electric starter did not work! YOU don't see that one today. Nor do you see a choke control.

Time marches on - in 50 years they will all be calling THESE the good old days!

Dash controls RIP. Frequent controls are on the steering wheel or colume where they are safest to use while driving. Secondary controls are best automated such that they don't require attention or are voice activated. Larger or multiple dash displays mean no need to switch between views.