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Originally Posted by Bill Bumface
Literally no one is copying deletion of the gauge cluster, and there is a reason there is a multitude of aftermarket options to address this for Model Ys.
As GGG said, the ergonomics here are not subjective.
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Ergonomics are completely subjective. It is literally the study of usability and design to improve function and productivity, which varies from individual to individual. I had to do an industrial psychology track in school, which included cognitive ergonomics (primary focus of the track), and the whole intent was to understand how to build UIs that could be tailored to individuals while maintaining consistency in basic function. These consistencies became norms you had to design to but allow for flexibility to improve experience and functionality for the individual. In automobiles the gauge cluster is a norm that was adopted over time because it works for the majority of people, but even then, it came with some limitations. The steering wheel routinely blocked out the instrumentation cluster for certain drivers, which led to the innovation and introduction of the telescoping and tilt-adjustable steering column. The other option was to move that cluster out of that location, which has been done on various vehicles over the years, but added cost.
The gauge cluster has evolved over time and will continue to evolve. Using the whole dash as a modifiable display will greatly change how information and information is made available in new vehicle. Frankly, from the ergonomics point of view, the best piece of technology I ever had in a vehicle to eliminate distraction and improve my usability of the vehicle was the heads-up display, but that was a costly option that a lot of people didn't like or work for them for a number of reasons.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rubecube
This is one of those few topics that I feel actually qualified to speak on instead of just providing an opinion. My previous job was in the road safety industry for 5 years, specifically distracted driving. It's near unanimous among experts in the field that the Tesla tablet displays increase distractions and have/will lead to more crashes.
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I'm not denying any of the distraction aspects. I'm just not buying the ergonomics being concrete argument. Looking away from the road in any direction is a distraction and dangerous. The Tesla center console just didn't work for me, and was a distraction to me, because of the way I had been trained to drive. It is the one reason I refused to buy a Tesla (before Musk lost his mind). I just wasn't willing to give myself the time to adapt to the change in location of that information source. Other drivers clearly have. Buttons, dials, and controls vary from vehicle-to-vehicle and that isn't going to change. It is part of how manufacturers differentiate themselves in the marketplace and will continue to move in that direction.
The ergonomics of vehicles will also continue to change as technology evolves, but manufacturers are becoming less concerned about distractions as they continue to jam more and more active technologies which allow for distraction while the vehicle is being driven. Even that classic instrumentation cluster is rapidly changing and becoming modifiable so you can put anything you want in that location. But the amount of dash real estate being leveraged is rapidly changing. I think we can probably agree that the following provide way too many opportunities for distraction rather than improvements in safety. AT the same time, they will also provide opportunities for people to tailor their driving experience and adapt their care to their personal needs.