Tech & Auto
These 6 High-Tech Car Features Are So Unnecessary
By JOE CAPRARO
Rain Sensing Wipers
Whether built into the rear-view mirror, windshield glass, or wipers, rain-sensing systems aren’t as good as our eyes in determining when to turn the wipers on.
Even the systems that vary wiper speed with the volume of rainfall can’t beat the human brain and intermittent wiper timing when adjusting to variable rainfall and vehicle speeds.
Electronic Brakes
In many cars, electronic switches on the console or dash have replaced the hand lever or foot pedal that was used to apply the parking and emergency brake.
With potential failure points like fuses, wiring, and relays, the brakes leave drivers to trust a light or dashboard indicator and not mechanical clicks to know their car’s parked.
Gesture Control
Motion sensors that read hand gestures to aid in cockpit controls have reportedly failed to recognize intended signals, reacting to unintended movements instead.
These unreliable gesture recognition systems take drivers' hands off the steering wheel and make it hard to manage signaling, safety, climate control, and entertainment systems.