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Hidden interface controls that affect usability

(interactions.acm.org)
561 points cxr | 2 comments | 05 Jul 25 23:10 UTC | HN request time: 0.423s | source
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WarOnPrivacy ◴[06 Jul 25 00:57 UTC] No.44476845[source]▶
I drive a Toyota that is nearly old enough to run for US Senator. Every control in the car is visible, clearly labeled and is distinct to the touch - at all times. The action isn't impeded by routine activity or maintenance (ex:battery change).

Because it can be trivially duplicated, this is minimally capable engineering. Yet automakers everywhere lack even this level of competence. By reasonable measure, they are poor at their job.

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aikinai ◴[06 Jul 25 01:06 UTC] No.44476892[source]▶
It's cost, not competence. These days making a touch screen is easier and cheaper than manufacturing and assembling lots of little buttons and knobs.
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PoshBreeze ◴[06 Jul 25 01:37 UTC] No.44477057[source]▶
This is often repeated but I don't believe this for a second. I have an 90s vehicle which is based on 60/70s technology. A switch for a fog light is like £10 on ebay for a replacement and I know I am not paying anywhere near cost i.e. I am being ripped off.
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1. sokoloff ◴[06 Jul 25 12:46 UTC] No.44480336[source]▶
You think you’re being ripped off for a £10 fog light switch on a ~30 year old car?

That sounds like an incredible bargain to me.

Why do you think you should pay near cost? What’s the incentive for all the people who had to make, test, box, pack, move, finance, unpack, inventory, pick, box, label, and send it to you? I can’t imagine the price between £10 and free that you’d think wasn’t a rip-off for a part that probably sells well under a 100 units per year worldwide.

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2. PoshBreeze ◴[06 Jul 25 13:45 UTC] No.44480784[source]▶
I shouldn't have worded it that way. I wanted to stress that the £10 would have been way more than the price per unit if there was a bulk order.

As for it being a bit of a rip off yes it was a little bit. I found the same part for cheaper literally the next day.

In any-event. It isn't the important part of what I was trying to communicate.