An Example of Terrible UI Design: The Gas Gauge in the Volkswagen Atlas

Re:An Example of Terrible UI Design: The Gas Gauge in the Vo... by Hamuko on Monday May 17, 2021 @02:50AM (#27180687)

>Is it just me? Would you glance down at that gauge on the Atlas and instantly read 1/4 full?

At a quick glance yes, but I noticed pretty quickly that the arrow is attached to the fuel pump icon and I already knew that it indicates the side of the filler cap so I quite quickly found the white lines next to it. It's pretty awful design though and you could immediately improve it by placing the pump icon below E.

I'm a big fan of the instrument cluster in my car (https://mbworld.org/forums/attachments/c-class-w204/337121d1...) since it's so clean and I feel that all of these digital clusters are going to be a massive downgrade when it comes to readability.

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Re:An Example of Terrible UI Design: The Gas Gauge in the Vo... by tsomctl on Monday May 17, 2021 @10:03AM (#27183516)

In the eighties and nineties, BMW and Mercedes spent a huge amount of money on researching how to lay out car interiors. The idea being, a car with easy to read displays and easy to use controls is going to be safer.

Although, TBH, I think the best heater controls are from old Toyotas. https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1618833... Windshield fogging up? Push all the controls to the right. Don't even have to look at it.

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Re:An Example of Terrible UI Design: The Gas Gauge in the Vo... by Hamuko on Monday May 17, 2021 @10:42AM (#27183987)

I think I prefer my automatic climate control controls though, since I almost never have a need to touch it. I just have it set for 22°C and on full auto. During winter I may need to press the defogger or the rear window defrosting buttons but not even that often.

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Re:An Example of Terrible UI Design: The Gas Gauge in the Vo... by epse on Monday May 17, 2021 @03:36AM (#27180911)

I was looking at that dash picture for a good couple of minutes trying to figure out where the f one saw the gas level

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Re:An Example of Terrible UI Design: The Gas Gauge in the Vo... by bellyfullofbac on Monday May 17, 2021 @04:14AM (#27181115)

Edit: I realize you're talking about the picture in the GP comment (it's a Mercedes dash), below I'm talking about the UI in the article (the VW Atlas);

It's pretty bad UI, the 2 bars are thinner than the scale lines, and the fuel pump icon with the arrow seems to be just slapped on there not aligned to anything.

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Re:An Example of Terrible UI Design: The Gas Gauge in the Vo... by Hamuko on Monday May 17, 2021 @05:40AM (#27181601)

I don't really understand how. I think it's pretty big and obvious.

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Re:An Example of Terrible UI Design: The Gas Gauge in the Vo... by LorenPechtel on Monday May 17, 2021 @12:06PM (#27185030)

It's fine if you study it. This design would be no problem to an owner, but quite deceptive to a renter.

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Re:An Example of Terrible UI Design: The Gas Gauge in the Vo... by rcv on Monday May 17, 2021 @07:19AM (#27182217)

What does the coffee cup icon indicate to the left of P?

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Re:An Example of Terrible UI Design: The Gas Gauge in the Vo... by clashandcarry on Monday May 17, 2021 @07:53AM (#27182436)

ATTENTION ASSIST: https://www.mercedesbenzhiltonhead.com/blog/what-does-the-co...

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