Hyundai Commits to Keeping Physical Buttons in Cars for Safety Reasons

Hyundai has joined the trend of installing dual-screen displays on the dashboard, but unlike most automakers who are integrating all the vehicle functions into the center screen, Hyundai is retaining physical buttons for controlling essential features.

According to the Head of Hyundai Design, Sang Yup Lee, this decision is driven by safety concerns while driving. When interacting with a touchscreen while driving, it is difficult to control and focus on the road at the same time, but with physical buttons, it is easy to locate and feel them without having to look away from the road. Lee stated that Hyundai would continue to use physical buttons as long as possible.

However, with further developments being made in self-driving vehicles, Hyundai may ultimately shift from traditional buttons to operating all car functions from within the touchscreen. With a level 4 self-driving system, the car would no longer require human intervention, and the use of a touchscreen would pose no safety risks as the vehicle would be doing all the driving.

While Hyundai is preparing for the future's touchscreen-dominated interiors, it is currently committed to ensuring safe driving on the roads. Modern designs such as the Ioniq 6 electric car come equipped with several physical buttons and shortcuts on the dashboard for frequently used functions. In Lee's words, "it's safest to have your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel" while driving a car.

As the automobile industry continues to evolve with the incorporation of advanced autonomous features, automakers like Hyundai will have to find innovative ways to balance technological advancements with passenger safety.

Source: CarsGuide