“Rivian Declares War On Physical Buttons”

[dleepnw]

This article is either poor journalism or blatant attempt at click bait.
https://electrek.co/2024/03/07/rivian-r2-electric-suv-unveiling-design-cheaper-price/

While Wassym did give indications that voice control will/should be more impactful in the future I don’t think his intent was to state Rivian hates all buttons nor thats its going to happen anytime soon. And he does state it needs to be a blend where there are multi modal options. Personally I don’t think voice works for all functions in all use cases, which is why multi modal is the way to go. But who knows how technology will evolve.

Tesla has gone too far under the guise of minimalism, which is often times a veiled cost cutting effort. In my opinion Rivian has a good blend of touch and tactile with screen and buttons. And I think the upcoming scroll wheel they showed in the R2 is the right blend of software and hardware working together to simplify but enhance user interaction.

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[Spaceball1]

I don’t mind the Rivian setup, but I do think it would be better to have hard buttons for at least some of the HVAC, including the heated/cooled seats and wheel. A knob for audio volume would be nice to have too, though as the primary driver I just use the wheel control. It’s nicer for the passenger really.

Lastly, I feel they should back off the vent controls being electronic via the screen. I don’t really see how that is more convenient nor is the extra cost making it motorized really necessary IMO. Would be both a cost savings and product improvement to do away with it.

 

[Riviot]

Rivian has a good blend of touch and tactile with screen and buttons. And I think the upcoming scroll wheel they showed in the R2 is the right blend of software and hardware working together to simplify but enhance user interaction.

I recently drove a Subaru Solterra as a rental in Phoenix and hated the buttons it had. It was hard to tell what setting they were actually in, and whether it registered my taps. I prefer the Rivian style as they can update and relocate buttons if needed with the entirely touchscreen interface.

I feel they should back off the vent controls being electronic via the screen.

This is the one thing I really don't like about the R1. The front vents periodically get out of whack and you have to reach in the holes with your fingers to correct, or max out in opposite directions for the motors to readjust. It's a silly "feature."

 

[BrayBay]

@dleepnw did you mean to link https://insideevs.com/news/739537/rivian-software-physical-buttons-anomaly/ ?

Going back to the premise, I think it would be good for everyone to watch the interview again at that time stamp:

During the interview, it sounds to me Wassym is responding to a question about generative AI and proposing that in an "ideal" world voice controls would be the norm. It seems to me that Wassym is taking a very futuristic viewpoint of the automotive experience and not that Rivian should just get rid of all physical interfaces. All the work on the enhanced haptic scroll wheels should be evidence that Rivian is not declaring war on physical controls.

In a sense, I kind of get where he is going with this futurism. A highly sophisticated interactive AI system in a vehicle should practically be like a private personal driver. I should be able to talk to it like a normal person to navigate, set the right climate, or find the right entertainment without having to lift a finger. I personally think we're several generations away from that future, and we'll all continue to use touch screens and buttons for now. Eventually all these different type of interactions will blend over time.

 

[JjamesS]

I thought the powered vents were unnecessary too… until the update where you could store presets. To me, that is a very nice quality of life improvement and now I think powered vents would be my preferred solution.

but I too would like some buttons. A row of assignable buttons under the screen would be all I want.

 

[CrazyOne]

Don't get me started on buttons. The door lock/unlock should be a real button. Too much lag for it to be a touch function. The UI freezes a bit while putting it into park and I have to hit multiple times for it to work. Same with door handle buttons. Range Rover has buttons on handles.

This is cost cutting, though it's better than Tesla with the drive selector in touch screen.

 

[kenyee]

In the interview, it was clearly said that *touchscreen* buttons should not be needed.

Steering wheel buttons are excluded.

 

[WhidbeyIsland]

Maybe, if you are the only person in the car. But I'm sorry, I can't see speaking verbal commands with a car full of other folks, either kids or adults. You would be stopping conversations to utter.. "Rivian, turn on the lights" or "Rivian, turn up the heat". or "Rivian, change playlist to xxx".. Everyone would have to stop talking to listen to your interruption, or more likely speak a counter command, just to mess with you.

Sigh, I don't need that.

 

[DD4ST]

I agree on the vents. From a safety standpoint, buttons should be available for functions that one might need to adjust while driving. I’d also put side mirror adjustment in this category. Folks instinctively get to know where these buttons are and can use them without looking for them. If I am driving and have to adjust the vents in my Rivian I have to take my eyes off the road to look at the screen. That is a recipe for disaster IMO. An alternative would be an interactive Heads Up Display with a controller stick or wheel. Eyes on the road AND for adjustments.

BTW I thought audio volume could be adjusted with the steering wheel button.

 

[bigsky]

This article is either poor journalism or blatant attempt at click bait.
https://electrek.co/2024/03/07/rivian-r2-electric-suv-unveiling-design-cheaper-price/

While Wassym did give indications that voice control will/should be more impactful in the future I don’t think his intent was to state Rivian hates all buttons. And he does state it needs to be a blend where there are multi modal options. Personally I don’t think voice works for all functions in all use cases, which is why multi modal is the way to go.

Tesla has gone too far under the guise of minimalism, which is often times a veiled cost cutting effort. In my opinion Rivian has a good blend of touch and tactile with screen and buttons. And I think the upcoming scroll wheel they showed in the R2 is the right blend of software and hardware working together to simplify but enhance user interaction.

Rivian declares war on physical buttons?
Amen, hallelujah, glory to god!!!!
It is a matter of personal taste, or an acquired one, perhaps. For me, Tesla set the bar, and frankly did not go far enough in terms on minimalistic everything. It is glorious, it is awesome. Indeed, minimalist is exactly what defines a REAL EV, a total stroke of genius to have ridden EVs of all that clutter. The display consolidates all the features so nicely. And if I don't care to hunt for a feature even if buried in the menus, I just tell my Tesla what to do and voila! Done. I truly hope Rivian gets to that state.

I had the chance to drive a Ford Edge this last summer. O.M.G! I counted no fewer than 50 different buttons and knobs scattered throughout the dash. And on the steering wheel, so many buttons, too. The Ford team did not throw more buttons on it simply because it ran out of space. Absurd.

Buttons, knobs. For me so ICE, so passé , so absolutely not in an EV, so go away. Good riddance already!!

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

If I were him, I’d focus on delivering bug-free features from his team and hold back on preaching a button-free utopia. I’m with most of the folks in this thread—a quick door unlock and adjusting the vents shouldn't require mental gymnastics!

 

[Riviot]

I thought the powered vents were unnecessary too… until the update where you could store presets. To me, that is a very nice quality of life improvement and now I think powered vents would be my preferred solution.

... Except the presets don't actually adjust to the right angle every time, despite closing when turned off. At least once a week, my center driver vent is angled way too far left, not amidships like I have it set.

Edit:
Looks like today it decided settings don't even matter, just open a vent anyway.

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