lcd touch screen car monitor brands

New Vision Display’s engineers are highly qualified to handle these challenges. Our automotive solutions and services have received awards from Tier 1 OEMs. The decades of expertise our engineers bring to every project is virtually unmatched among manufacturers of automotive touch screens and displays.

NVD’s design and tuning capabilities allow customers to create designs with application-specific performance. And, NVD performs touch controller tuning internally — a task many other manufacturers must outsource to controller manufacturers. Our touch solutions include:Multi-finger touch

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A touch screen car stereo is just what you need to significantly upgrade your in-car entertainment from those generic manual car stereos. It gives you so many options for listening to your favorite music, taking calls, playing videos, opening route maps, etc. Not to forget the added advantage of a touchscreen that can give you a smartphone-like experience on the go.

As there are many touch screen radios out there, not all of them are a good buy. To help you out, we have come up with a few of the best models out there. These models were picked based on the following criteria:

Form Factor: The size of your touch-screen car radio is revealed by its form factor, which is also crucial for compatibility when it comes to installing and correctly fitting a car stereo unit inside your vehicle. Except for a few bigger double DIN-sized vehicle stereos, practically all car stereos come with the smaller single DIN size to assure optimal compatibility.

Connectivity: Checking the connectivity choices given by your car audio is crucial because you’ll be using external media playback options with it rather frequently. As a result, nearly all vehicle stereos have standard connectivity choices including Bluetooth, USB, aux, and radio, with flexible versions sometimes including even more connectivity possibilities.

Power Output: Having a strong enough vehicle stereo is crucial if you want to connect your car speakers directly to your car audio without requiring an external amplifier. A greater power rating is always preferable for heavy-duty usage when it comes to using vehicle stereos, and it may be provided as up to 100 watts, up to 150 watts, or more.

There are still a lot of things you need to think about in addition to these ideas. To let you choose the best touch screen car radios, at the end of this listicle, all of the best car stereos included here have all of their crucial characteristics and factors accurately detailed along with a thorough “Buying Guide.”

If you’re looking for a new Android Auto head unit for your car and want something reasonable and cost-effective, you can also have a look at Hikity’s choices.

As one of the least expensive solutions available, Hikity’s Android Auto head unit is among the top touch screen car radio systems in this list. It comes with a 10.1-inch display that is coupled with a respectable 1024 x 600 screen resolution.

As a bonus, this Android vehicle stereo has a backup camera. Rearview camera with 170° viewing angle, HD, and night vision. When in reverse, the screen instantly shows stereo reverse views, making parking safer and easier.

Another manufacturer of Android Auto head units that provides a variety of affordable and entry-level alternatives with useful capabilities for use in your car is Podofo.

The JOY-D006 is a 100% standard size, universal IOS interface that was specially developed for the American market. You may easily control the 1024*600 responsive 7″ touchscreen display with your fingertips, and the reaction time is swift.

Sync your iOS smartphone with a large screen to easily make calls, listen to music, send and receive messages, utilize navigation, and more. You can connect your smartphone through Carplay/Bluetooth or the AUX input. It is Mirror Link compatible as well. Additionally, there is a USB port and TF card slot that supports MP3/WMA/FLAC/WAV and ID3 Tag.

This automobile radio system has a 7-inch double din and excellent quality. For optimum results, use a fingernail or tip to touch the screen. Sharing music as well as videos on your devices with ease.

Take a phone call hands-free by using the BT connection to dial and listen to a call on the radio. BT and hands-free calling, USB, FM Radio, AUX-IN, TF Card (up to 32G), video player, music player, and remote control are all supported.

The Apple CarPlay feature is supported by this radio. You may use the original mobile phone data line to connect to IOS and use the music, map, and call features. Get instructions, send and receive information, etc. also possible with SIRI. Android phones can work with this double din vehicle audio.

To satisfy your various demands for sound quality, it contains built-in DSP sound effects and 16-band EQ, Vbass, balance, volume, and filter adjustments. The most recent version 5.0, which boasts quick transmission speed and greater stability, is used by this Carplay Car Stereo System. supports interference-free, hands-free call taking and answering.

The head unit dimension for this Android car stereo is 250x145x40mm, with a double din installation. 10-inch capacitive touch large screen. It has high resolution and 1080P super clear video capability. Its screen is made of 2.5D arc anti-scratch tempered glass.

Additionally, this gadget has twin USB connections and RCA video output/input connectors. Use the Android vehicle stereo’s 10-inch radio touchscreen. Connect to WiFi and download a variety of apps for the radio, including YouTube, TikTok, Maps, email, and more.

A high-resolution, colorful, clear, bright LCD display with support for clear movies is included with this device’s 7-inch double din vehicle entertainment system. On your devices, you may watch clear pictures and movies at any time from a variety of channels.

The 7-inch LCD Touch screen on the vehicle stereo provides you with an excellent viewing experience. The majority of cell phones can use the mirror connection function with this twin vehicle radio.

This dual vehicle radio is compatible with most smartphones’ mirror connect feature. Your car audio will display the phone navigation map when you turn on the navigation app and connect through USB.

The HD 1024*600 LCD display technology used in this car stereo gives you a comfortable user experience. On the stereo display, it offers 1920 x 1080P video and music playing. Via a USB cable connection, you may project the screen of the smartphone onto this car stereo screen.

To get the speaker listening, hands-free calling, and wireless music streaming without any interruptions, simply link this stereo unit with the smartphone. This Bluetooth-enabled dash car stereo unit comes with a front camera and backup camera input. The dual auto radio enables the driver to have HD quality footage of the rear view when reversing the vehicle.

It is also compatible with iOS Carplay and Android Auto. This improved double din vehicle stereo receiver has a built-in smart chip to speed up touch sensing, giving you a smoother experience.

Apple has created a system called Carplay that is specifically tailored for IOS devices. You may use the 7-inch stereo touch screen to control apps from your phone, including navigation, phone, music, and radio, after connecting your iPhone to the stereo using the original USB-Lighting cable.

A method for connecting cars and computers called Android Auto was developed especially by Google for Android smartphones. Connect your Android phone to the L1 stereo using the original USB data cable, and then use the 7-inch touch screen to control a variety of apps that have been specially designed for vehicle stereos.

The MINYE 1024*600 HD capacitive screen solution provides more sensitivity and accuracy than the conventional 800*480 resistive screen. Meanwhile, the complete touch solution takes center stage and the conventional physical buttons are eliminated.

You would like to enhance your driving experience with the best in-car audio system, whether you use your automobile for a daily commute between cities or big interstate trips. However, because a car touch screen stereo must be placed inside your vehicle in order for this to be feasible, we’ve already included some of the top car stereos in the list given above.

Installing your vehicle audio correctly is necessary before you even start utilizing it. Checking the car audio system’s form factor is crucial for ensuring the same. Single and double DIN car touch screen stereos fall under the standardized form factor for car stereos known as DIN.

Regarding the numerous vehicle stereos listed above, nearly all of them include double DIN connectors to enable high compatibility and bigger displays that are ideal for car stereos running Android.

You must connect a media playback device to your car radio to play any type of music via it. Therefore, it is crucial to examine your vehicle stereo’s connectivity choices to see if it’s compatible with the car’s audio device you want to use.

You should also verify the power output rating if you intend to use your car touch screen stereos’ internal amplifiers rather than the external one. This is mainly to make sure that your vehicle stereos can power your car speakers effectively and without any problems.

You can perform a lot of things with your car audio while using it, like switching tracks, or playing and pausing music, adjusting the level, navigating through different music sources, etc. This makes having an appropriate display and the controls for your car audio very crucial. As far as the controls are concerned, practically all vehicle stereos include touch screen buttons for all of your standard settings and choices.

However, if you select more expensive car stereos, one may even find models with sizable touch screens, perfect for Android car touch screen stereos that provide the user with a variety of smart functions and applications.

All of these head units feature screens, as you may already be aware, because they are rather large and need two dins for installing them in the car. Choosing the preferred display size you want to install in your car is the first chore, thus.

Even though the bulk of double din head units has displays that are about 7 inches wide. If you’re looking for a bigger one, there are a couple of good options that even have displays that are 10 to 11 inches wide. Therefore, you must decide if a 7-inch display would do for you or whether your car needs a larger one.

You want your present car audio to last long since you don’t constantly install new car stereos in cars. Checking the vehicle radio’s warranty might be a terrific alternative for ensuring the same. Almost all vehicle stereos have a one-year guarantee for your peace of mind. You may anticipate that any vehicle radio will provide an even higher lifespan and dependability if it has a longer guarantee period.

Sensors and other cutting-edge safety measures are visible on the touch screen display. More crucially, it can be connected to a backup camera equipped with proximity sensors. Some automakers go a step farther and provide a 360-degree overview of the vehicle.

Headphones with touch screens can also receive satellite radio and HD radio. With satellite and HD, audio is clearer and sharper. Satellite and HD radio offer fewer blind spots than an FM/AM stereo since they don’t rely on radio towers.

You must link your mobile device to the car stereo through Bluetooth in order to make hands-free phone calls utilizing the vehicle’s audio system. This turns on the car stereo’s microphone for the duration of the conversation.

You can still install a normal DIN-sized car radio even if your car doesn’t come with one. You may achieve this by utilizing a DIN adapter, which will modify the dashboard of your automobile so that it is compatible with stereos with the common DIN size. Since touch screen vehicle radios often have huge displays, double DIN is required.

If you’re looking for a new car audio system for your car, there are likely to be a lot of good alternatives available to you. We’ve previously listed some of the top vehicle stereos above since picking the proper one can be a bit challenging.

In reality, all of these top vehicle stereos come with a list of their important features and characteristics. A comprehensive shopping guide for the top vehicle stereos mentioned above is also available. We provide our top selections and suggestions for the top touch screen vehicle stereos while keeping all of these factors in mind:

Hikity Touch Screen Radio This is one of the best touch screen car radio or stereos on this list with its 10.1-inch screen. It is perfect if you are looking for a bigger screen size. It is easy to install and control. You can install this car stereo in your car to enjoy seamless music, FM radio and enhance your car ride experience.

Podofo Touch Screen Radio The Podofo vehicle radio, in contrast to other single DIN alternatives available, nevertheless features a touchscreen display that is 7 inches in size. You can easily make the most of this touchscreen because it also has connectivity choices including USB, Bluetooth, SD card, aux, and radio. This vehicle radio has a one-year guarantee, much like the majority of other car stereos.

To select the best touchscreen car stereos, I reviewed pricing, functionality, customer reviews, and quality ratings. I selected head units with the best reviews possible, but I also looked at ease of installation and longevity. Paying someone to install a stereo can add up to big bucks, so it’s good to have the option to install it yourself. I also selected screens that fit in the largest number of vehicles, as a big screen can be a big pain in older cars.

I also kept entertainment in mind, because that’s the primary purpose of a car stereo. I selected head units that offer the broadest possible feature set, including things like Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and SiriusXM tuner compatibility. You can be confident that these touchscreen car stereos are packed with the most desirable features.

The Pioneer DMH-WT7600NEX is one of the most complete and feature-rich touchscreen car stereo systems on the market today. It’s not cheap, but its nine-inch HD display, single-DIN fit, and wired or wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities make it a great choice for a wide variety of vehicles. The WT7600NEX features an 8.0-inch screen, but if you’re looking for a larger display, Pioneer sells the same unit with a 10.1-inch display.

Installing an aftermarket head unit can be annoying in older vehicles with factory tape players and other basic stereos due to the size of newer products. Pioneer addresses that issue with a single-DIN installation that easily slides into an existing stereo slot. The only downside here is that the large screen “floats” in front of the dash, and can obscure buttons or air vents if they are too close to the display.

Boss is a strong brand in the aftermarket audio space, and it offers touchscreen car stereos with great value and plenty of features. The BE950WCPA offers wired OR wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, voice controls, Bluetooth, auxiliary inputs, inputs for a backup camera, and more. With 20 watts RMS or 80 watts peak by four channels, the Boss system also has enough power to fill almost any vehicle with clean sound.

Buyers report that the Boss unit is reasonably easy to install, but many complain of poor documentation and unclear directions. Unlike some touchscreens on our list, the Boss is a full double-DIN unit, meaning you can’t install it in a smaller single-DIN space. Even though the body is larger, the screen measures just 6.75 inches, so in this case, the tradeoff for a lower price is a smaller screen and annoying directions.

Sony has decades of experience building audio equipment, and its expertise shows in the XAV-AX8100. The touchscreen car stereo system offers an 8.95-inch display that mounts on a single-DIN chassis. The display is three-way adjustable, so you can get the positioning just right, and Sony included physical buttons for fast access to functions like volume and track adjustments. The unit also comes with a 10-band EQ system to dial in your desired sound.

Although it features a large screen, some buyers state that the Sony unit is not bright enough for easy viewing in direct sunlight. Most rave about the responsiveness and value represented by the Sony unit. The physical controls make it easy to change the volume level or track, making the device less distracting to use when driving.

Many newer vehicles come with giant infotainment displays from the factory, but if you want that functionality in an older model, you can’t go wrong with the Alpine Halo11 iLX-F411. The 11-inch touchscreen car stereo system features a single-DIN chassis with the ability to install in larger spaces using an adapter. The floating screen design is adjustable and offers multiple viewing angles.

The Alpine head unit comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, along with Pandora and Spotify controls with a connected smartphone. The unit offers inputs for a rearview camera and a switcher to accommodate a two-camera system. SiriusXM requires a separate tuner, but once installed, the head unit supports traffic, weather, and sports info from the satellite radio company.

Stereo manufacturers do their best to build head units with the ability to install in a wide variety of vehicles, but sometimes the fit just isn’t there. If you have an oddball car with a dash that seems like it will never fit a new touchscreen car stereo system, the DMH-WC5700NEX could be your ticket. Pioneer designed the unit to accommodate modular installation, meaning the screen and chassis can be installed together or separately. If your dash is giving you hassle, you can mount the display and hide the chassis in the glove box or other out-of-the-way location.

The Pioneer’s 6.78-inch display isn’t the biggest on our list, but it’s bright, responsive, and easily viewable from almost any angle. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility come in wired or wireless, and Amazon Alexa capability is built in. A 13-band EQ allows fine-tuning of sound and SiriusXM is available with a separate tuner.

When you desperately want a touchscreen but don’t want to spend much cash, Kenwood’s got you covered. The DDX276BT doesn’t offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but it does have smartphone connectivity for streaming music, and you can still use it to take phone calls hands-free in the car. The 6.2-inch is bright and responsive, and the head unit includes USB inputs and can be installed to work with factory steering wheel controls.

I picked the Pioneer DMH-WT7600NEX as the best overall touchscreen car stereo system because it offers an excellent mix of screen size, features, ease of installation, and quality. I chose the Boss BE950WCPA for value because it gives up very little in the pursuit of a good price.

The most important thing to consider before buying a stereo is the size. The best touchscreen car stereo system in the world won’t do you any good if it doesn’t fit your car. It’s also good to check for overall fit, meaning the space the screen takes up on your dash. Air vents and physical buttons can be obstructed by a giant screen, which will be annoying even if you love the display. That said, it’s possible to buy adapters and brackets that allow you to install single-DIN head units in larger spaces, but that’s an added cost you’ll have to pay on top of the purchase and installation price.

You have a couple of options when it comes to choosing a touchscreen head unit. The lower-cost option is to prioritize the touchscreen and price over all other functionality. On average, expect to pay $300 or less for a budget touchscreen stereo.The second option is to prioritize features and functionality. Most touchscreen car stereo systems with robust feature sets start for around $500, but it’s possible to spend more than $1,500.

A: While it’s common to find touchscreen car stereo systems without a CD player, we’re not yet in a place where they can be phased out completely. Many people have older cars with old stereos that play CDs and many companies still make them, so we’re likely to have them around for some time to come.

A: “Best” depends on your needs and wants when it comes to car audio. If you prioritize a display and want the graphical component that they bring, a touchscreen may be best, but if you want a simpler experience, there are dozens of straightforward head units on the market.

A: The stereos in many newer cars are integrated with several vehicle functions, like climate and safety systems. Even if a replacement fits, which in many cases it won’t, you’ll lose all of the functionality benefits that a tightly wound in-vehicle ecosystem brings.

A: You can install a backup camera with a standalone display, so you’re not required to buy a new stereo to get a camera. If you want an all-in-one solution, many touchscreen car stereos offer connections for backup cameras, but it’s an extra cost.

Car screens, media players, digital media receivers, dashboard screens, multimedia screens, android screens - all of these terms are interchangeably used to denote one indispensable car accessory. A head unit that sits on your dashboard and can be easily controlled to play music and video for a complete in-car entertainment experience and perform other functions like navigation, telephone calls etc.

Google’s Android OS has made its way into car media players so seamlessly that we have been blessed with some of the most exciting head units that either come pre-installed in certain mid-range and almost all luxury vehicles or can be purchased at a massive discount on the GoMechanic Accessories website and installed in any vehicle from any maker around the world.

Modern android screens come with High Definition FHD capacitive touchscreens that are intuitive, interactive and can play video and also function as a smartphone’s display capable of receiving touch inputs. This means that modern android screens can be operated with the touch of a finger and even through Steering Wheel Controls (SWC) if they are SWC compatible - most of them are.

There are multiple global electronics and car accessories brands offering stiff competition in producing some of the most featureful android car screens. Global players like JBL, Pioneer, Sony, and Blaupunkt have designed and are currently retailing some of the best android screen options around the world and in India. There are a plethora of features and parameters to consider when buying one for your vehicle. Here is a simple guide to the main features that one should consider when buying an android screen for your car.

Installing an aftermarket android screen means that you have to essentially take out the pre-installed stereo system and fit your new media player in the slot. If you get a screen that has a bigger display size than the slot provided in your dashboard, then chances are you will have to perform some mechanical modifications. On the other hand, if the size of the screen is smaller than the slot, then it will not fit.

Ideally, car android screens can be found with screen sizes starting from as low as 6 inches and going all the way up to 10 inches and even bigger. Therefore, the size and the fit of the screen in your dashboard is the first thing to consider before getting one for your car.

The processor inside a car"s android screen is responsible for the various digital functions it is capable of undertaking. The power of the processor also defines the smoothness and the fastness of operations.

Just like a computer or a smartphone, modern android screens have a Random Access Memory (RAM) and a Read-Only Memory (ROM). At the most fundamental level, the ROM is the space available for the storage of files, including the space occupied by installed applications and additional files generated during the operations of the screen. The RAM determines the speed of operations on the android screen.

Car rear camera and front camera outputs can be connected to android screen inputs if they have adequate receiving capacity. It is important to check the number of inputs provided on the screen. Besides camera inputs, android screens also come with USB inputs for connecting external drives and playing media files stored within.

Basic connectivities like Bluetooth and WiFi are now standard on most car android screens. However, one must also look out for PhoneLink/WebLink, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay which are now increasingly standardized on modern android screens.

Even if you are on a budget, technological innovation and streamlined production/procurement options have made it possible for us to bring to you a plethora of car android screens starting at a very affordable price point.

The best part is that when you buy a car android screen from GoMechanic Accessories, besides assured discounts, you also get genuine products, free delivery and a complete manufacturer provided warranty. Don’t hold back on your ambitions to get a new, flashy and fully loaded android screen for your car anymore. Visit the website and get ready to be amazed.

The ever-increasing reliance on touch screens in cars is a controversial topic. With each new product release, the comment sections of articles and youtube videos are filled with negative remarks. Yet, carmakers are totally committed to the race of creating ever-bigger screens. If public opinion is so against touch interfaces in cars, why do car companies use them? I dove into this topic and confirmed my hypothesis: touch screens are not the problem per se, but car companies" design execution is.

The CRT touch display was not that bad, but it took some decades before touch screens were good enough to be widely adopted in cars. After Tesla launched the Model S with its 17" touch screen, carmakers have been eager to design increasingly bigger touch screens. Today, it is an exception if a car is not fitted with one. There are many reasons why this is happening. To dive into those, we first have to define the different types of interactions that occur while driving and how they evolved over time.

The first set is the primary interactions. They include all the functions that are directly related to driving and safety. Examples are monitoring the speed, turning on the indicators, and operating the windscreen wipers.

The tertiary interactions are the opposite of the secondary ones. They are infrequent but require a high cognitive load and take longer to accomplish. Examples are filling in a destination in the navigation system or changing personal settings in the car.

All three sets of interactions increase in quantity, even the primary ones. In the Golf, for example, instead of some basic gauges and controls, the latest generation"s primary interactions now also include adaptive cruise control, speed limit warnings, and a range of other safety systems. Even something as simple as turning on the windscreen wipers or lights has increased in complexity with different modes, sensors, and settings.

But the real visible change is an exponential increase in tertiary interactions. Whereas in the first generation Golf, you can only choose a radio station, today there is an endless list of radio channels, streaming services, and podcast platforms. And that is just the media. Almost all cars come with navigation systems, phone connections, and internet-connected apps. All of these can be set up and configured to fit your personal taste. For example, you can choose the exact color of the interior lights, how heavy the steering should be, and which information should be shown in the cluster display.

The latest generation Golf is another important step because even the secondary interactions are not moved to the touch interface. Most of the physical buttons that remain are the ones that are legally required.

Over time, just like most in-car infotainment systems, BMW adjusted iDrive for use with touch interaction as well. Why did they decide to include touch interaction in the later version?

A lot of it has to do with the increasing complexity of tertiary interactions. As the number of these interactions increases with each generation, indirect controls seem to perform worse than touch interaction, especially in two areas: task completion time and adoption.

Even compared to other possible interaction techniques like gesture interaction and voice interaction, touch interaction performs equal, if not better.

Naturally, task completion time is only one way to measure the success of an interaction model. Touch screens score differently when it comes to visual attention, lane deviation, reaction time, and others. Carmakers have to weigh the time it takes to complete the tasks versus the gravity of the distraction. In a lot of scenarios, touch interactions are the preferred method.

The second solid argument is the adoption rate of touch interfaces. Once drivers enter their cars, their focus is on driving and not on learning a new system. So one way to decrease driver distraction is to make the interaction as close to other familiar digital products as possible. As such, touch screens are preferred over indirect controls.

The next reason why car makers use touch screens has to do with decluttering. It is a term that is often heard in design departments. It means to reduce the visual overload or perceived complexity of the interior. Getting into a car and seeing a dashboard full of buttons gives a busy, overwhelming look. Instead, a calm-looking interior with few buttons has a positive impact on comfort and perceived quality.

Additionally, many customers relate a big touch screen to a technologically advanced car. As an interior designer, you don"t want your car to be perceived as old-fashioned so fitting a giant screen shows your brand is futuristic.

Compared to a dashboard full of different buttons, knobs, and screens, a single touch screen is a much more straightforward part to design, spec, and maintain. Therefore, carmakers may prefer to fit a standardized touch screen instead of a range of custom buttons and knobs because of the development cost.

Another advantage is the possibility to modernize the interior of the car by updating the UI design. Digital design trends move much faster than interior design trends. Tesla has shown that updating the interface of the Model S helps to delay an expensive redesign or new model introduction because the car looks less outdated.

In mobile environments, like cars, the users" primary focus is on controlling the vehicle. So touch interfaces not only have to be usable and accessible, but they also have to ensure road safety. As discussed before, even though task completion time is the fastest with touch interaction, there are other driver distraction measures where touch interaction is not the preferred method.

One of those is visual attention. When interacting with a touch screen, drivers need to move their visual attention from the road to the screen to find the object they want to select. Furthermore, they have to coordinate their finger to that object without any tactile objects guiding it. With physical controls much less visual attention is needed to perform the interaction, leading to less distraction.

What is the impact of this difference in visual attention between touch controls and indirect controls? Experiments have shown that reaction times are slower, and there is a higher variance in driving behavior like lane departure and maintaining speed

It is important to consider that there is no perfect solution for an interaction model of tertiary interactions that is easy to operate and not distracting. Carmakers should choose the "least bad" solution in this case and design around its shortcomings.

When weighing the positives with the drawbacks of touch screens, they are the right solution for tertiary interactions in most cases if they are optimized for task completion time.

Designing a touch interface is difficult, especially in the context of driving. As task completion time is the most significant advantage of touch screens, you would expect it to be one of the main acceptance criteria. Yet, many car companies don"t seem to focus on that enough.

The perfect example of that is the latest trend of including secondary controls in the touch interface. For secondary interactions, the task completion time is already at a minimum with physical controls. On top of that, the physical controls require less visual attention. By moving those to a touch screen, both the task completion time and visual attention are compromised. It is not only annoying for end-users, but it is also dangerous.

Carmakers may do this because of decluttering and cost-saving. The aesthetics are important and may persuade customers to buy a car when they first see it. But good design is finding the right balance between ergonomics and aesthetics. When considering the dangers of driving, the first job of the designer should be to minimize distraction.

On top of that, the added benefit of prioritizing safety is that the controls will be more intuitive and easy to use. An interior will look super slick in the dealership if it has no physical buttons. Still, most buyers will find out very quickly after purchasing their car that it is annoying to have to divert visual attention to simply turn on the heater if before they could do it blindly. In moving the secondary controls to a touch interface, the balance is leaning too much towards aesthetics than ergonomics.

The second example of carmakers making suboptimal design decisions is the interface design itself, which is often needlessly complicated. They are filled with features that make you wonder why you would need them in a vehicle, like the possibility to check social media, order a pizza from the car, find movie times, or set custom wallpaper.

To carmakers, offering a lot of features equals customer value. But as many tech companies have shown, customer value is actually created by ensuring users achieve their goals. Having too many features stands in the way of that, and research confirms that. Year after year, infotainment systems are the biggest frustration in new car ownership, and the majority of problems are design-related.

It may explain the popularity of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These systems are optimized for task completion time and restrict access to certain features and apps that are deemed too dangerous. As a result, they are less distracting than native infotainment systems.

Customers want the latest technology and apps to be available in their car. Designing an infotainment system in such a way that it is not distracting is impossible. In theory, touch screens are a valid technology to facilitate these interactions. However, car companies should be minimizing the risks of distraction. Today, there are significant steps to be made to get to that point. But there are reasons to be optimistic about the future.

The interior of the car is always transforming, and so are touch screens. There is a lot to be optimistic about. Lately, the hardware powering the infotainment systems has seen significant improvements, leading to better screens and faster interfaces. There will be more innovations like haptic feedback and new input types like gestures and better voice interaction in the next years. These will help to mitigate some of the disadvantages of touch screens.

Most carmakers are also getting serious about over-the-air updates, which will allow more iterations on the interface design to weed out usability issues.

In the end, it will be vital that they tip the balance more towards usability than aesthetics. But once they optimize their interfaces, and when combined with physical controls and other modalities, touch screens in cars will be a great solution.