The Button Renaissance: Hyundai’s Move Towards Physical Controls
Today’s vehicles put nearly more emphasis on in-car technologies than the actual motor. Nowadays, a touchscreen or some sort of digital display is virtually impossible to be without in cars for the past few years. That’s why it might be surprising that there is a display-less version of the Hyundai Elantra that is apparently being sold outside of North America.
Owing to safety regulations necessitating backup cameras, new vehicles in the States typically have a universal fit with touchscreens. This means that cars sold in the U.S. have screens baked into their interior designs, despite some car manufacturers aiming to provide cheaper options. However, this may cause a bit of complexity in the design of the base mode in “developing markets,” like the screen-less Elantra sold in the Middle East.
Another instance of this is the bared version of Hyundai vehicles found on (the website of Saudi dealer Al Kaif Motors). Rather than a traditional 8-inch touchscreen that we were used to, it has a simple dot-matrix display. Alternatively, it still possesses most of the features found on a touchscreen, such as Bluetooth and a radio.
Differing from touchscreens, these models have knobs and three buttons on either side of the screen, which are set up in what appears to be a similar fashion. It’s not far-fetched to assume that most of the fundamental technologies are the same, and that there is a possibility to supplement these stripped-out cars with a touchscreen at some point.
It is intriguing to envision how other modern cars could be if they deviated from the touchscreen trend. There is already a gradual shift towards physical controls like buttons and knobs, which instills hope for a future in the automotive industry with fewer distractions. After all, cars are meant for driving, not for watching movies while behind the wheel.
To further emphasize this point, Hyundai recently announced that it was aiming to prioritize safety by implementing old-school buttons, as the sole reliance on touchscreens was proving to be more of a distraction. In fact, Hyundai’s head of design, Sang Yup Lee, re-expressed the brand’s pledge to use physical buttons at the debut of the new Hyundai Kona SUV.
“We have used the physical buttons quite significantly the last few years. For me, the safety-related buttons have to be a hard key,” said Lee. “When you’re driving, it’s hard to control it. This is why when it’s a hard key, it’s easy to sense and feel it,”
Funny enough, this will only be a temporary solution, as with other car manufacturers, Hyundai is looking into autonomous driving.
Until that time comes, we can enjoy all of the wonderful features and innovations of the Hyundai brand at Southern Team Hyundai. We sell a wide range of vehicles from the popular car manufacturer that range in several different shapes and sizes.
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