Why talking cars don’t exist
In this blog post, I would like to share with you the idea of “calm technology” and shed light on how Tesla missed the mark in delivering an exceptional center console experience for its drivers by discarding years of incremental improvements for no good reason.
Calm Technology
Notifications can play a dual role in our lives. They can be immensely helpful, such as when Uber promptly informs us that our driver is en route. In this case, the notification eases the stress of uncertainty, reassuring us that our ride will indeed arrive.
Notifications can also be a source of irritation. We’ve all experienced the relentless beeping of a washing machine, compelling us to abandon our current tasks and investigate, even if we’re in the midst of something important.
Calm technology is a catch-all term for products that aim at reducing it’s users’ stress levels by facilitating their primary tasks without introducing unnecessary distractions.
Effective UX design is a fundamental component of calm technology. Creating a simple and clear interface empowers users to efficiently perform actions without unnecessary distractions. For example, a file upload without indicator will increase stress levels because the user can’t know whether the file is being uploaded.
Calm technology is technology that silently vanishes into the fabric of your daily life.
If you want to develop calm technology, there’s 3 things that you have to keep in mind:
- The User: How does the user interact with the product, how does the device catch the users’ attention?
- The Environment: In which environment is the product used? What other products may conflict with the products’ notifications? How does the product interact with its environment?
- The Information: What kind of information is provided by the product and what happens if it’s information lands in the wrong hands?
By staying attuned to these three facets — the user, the environment, and the information — you can craft products that embody the ideals of calm technology, seamlessly enhancing people’s lives without causing unnecessary stress or distraction.
Why we don’t have talking cars
A key facet of calm technology is the seamless ability to carry out a primary task while receiving information, without being diverted from that task. Think of driving a car as a prime example of this principle in action. As we navigate the road, we simultaneously process various “peripheral” information.
Our mirrors provide insights into the traffic behind us, but our attention remains firmly fixed on the road ahead. Similarly, when it comes to adjusting climate controls, we can change the temperature by simply turning a knob without losing focus on our driving. If something goes awry, a dashboard light illuminates, allowing us to decide on a course of action. And in case we forget to fasten our seat belts, an auditory notification discreetly informs us, all while our attention remains on the road. It’s a harmonious blend of information and action, with minimal disruption.
At some point in time BMW decided it was a good idea to implement voice notifications in their cars. Being BMW, all other car manufacturers followed suit and this resulted in funny scenario’s like in the video below:
The reason why this doesn’t exist anymore is that people hated this feature, because of instead of simple auditory signals or lights, the notification demanded their undivided attention, going something like this: “The door is ajar, the door is ajar, the door is ajar…” It was an exercise in annoyance, to say the least.
This brings me to our “revolutionary” design of Tesla. Take the Model 3’s center console, for instance — it’s button-free! In the pursuit of aesthetics, Tesla opted to toss out something that worked perfectly and replaced it with something that’s just plain impractical.
To adjust the temperature, the driver is now forced to divert their attention from the road and grapple with a distracting, oversized screen. A simple wrist movement became a inconvenient multi-step process.
This isn’t calm technology. The climate control implementation in a Tesla is simply a letdown. It’s a stark contrast to the years of progress that simplified climate control into a convenient knob, only to regress into a convoluted screen interface that demands unnecessary interactions and focus.
Thankfully, some brands, like BMW, remain faithful to the beloved physical buttons we’ve come to rely on. It’s a reminder that while calm technology may sound straightforward, it demands careful consideration when implementing solutions.
Further reading:
https://calmtech.com/ (principles & examples of calm technology)
