Ford Trying to Figure Out Buttons

[bstn rnr]

The sad part is all the people that "Hate" the integrated on-screen controls in the 2025+ get fixated on that part and not that you have the ability to adjust the temp and so much more by just saying "OK Ford, set drivers temp to 74" or "OK Ford, turn on the passengers heated seat". All you have to do is enable voice activation (This is DISABLED by default.) in the Sync 4 menu and now you don't even have to touch a single button or take your eyes off the road. All you have to do is use your voice. But, I can see it now "It's too hard to use my voice, it's such an inconvenience."

I think a lot of drivers use either Apple Carplay or Android through the unit and that negates using the voice control.

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[Whpony96]

I think a lot of drivers use either Apple Carplay or Android through the unit and that negates using the voice control.

Not with the Sync 4 they added voice control with both Apple Carplay, Android Auto, Google Assistant, Alexa. And it knows what you are asking for by the wake word. Example = Hey Google, OK Ford, Hey Siri, and Alexa.

https://www.ford.com/support/category/technology/ford-digital-experience/

 

[Warped9]

Never occurs to me to talk to my car. And I don’t use my phone through the car. I just don’t.

 

[Bill G]

I hate talking to my car (admittedly ‘21 BS w/sync3); between wind & raad noise, people talking , etc I have found it very unreliable and annoying. The only time it works effectively all the time is when I’m alone in the vehicle and parked. The touch screen is okay, but I prefer buttons/switches for many things.

 

[DWG]

I use voice command to make calls and it is not always straight forward so I do not bother with other commands. Even just trying to make a call using voice command I find myself having to repeat the voice command and sync coming back and asking me if I want to call X and asking me to respond yes or no. I respond in a normal voice and sync doesn't hear me so I have to repeat my response loudly before it makes the call.

Even though there are many voice commands besides making calls like climate control or changing radio stations there will always be some part of the real world population that will have difficulty with sync understand them correctly.

If you are lucky enough to have sync understand your commands without issue that is really great but voice command is not the answer for everyone.

Do a search for "are car manufacturers bringing back button controls". Lots of hits including this AI response:

Yes, major car manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Audi, and Porsche are bringing back physical buttons and knobs, reversing the trend of all-touchscreen controls due to driver frustration, safety concerns, and new European safety regulations (Euro NCAP) requiring physical switches for critical functions like wipers, hazard lights, and the horn by 2026. This shift prioritizes intuitive, safer controls for essential functions, moving away from overly complex touchscreens that slow reaction times.

 

[Warped9]

What is really dumb about all this is that a lot of people saw this problem coming from the start. The auto manufacturers went all in with this along with spending millions of dollars only to find out they had already had a system that worked perfectly well and wasn‘t broken.

 

[Ernest T]

I’d prefer buttons for things like radio volume and tuning and fan speed and temp. The voice command works well with my ‘25 Badlands and I use it occasionally. It’s just easier to reach over and give a knob a tweak.

 

[TheX]

At least I got a volume knob in my 25 OBX. SMH

 

[Red&Bad]

It’s just easier to reach over and give a knob a tweak.

We really need to keep this on subject. What else you do needs not be shared here.

 

[Stircrazy]

I am opposit, I think there are to many buttons in vehicles, so do we realy need buttons for volume and mute for the radio on the stering wheen and on the dash.

as for studdies between buttons and touch screen they are all skewed, they were done when 100% of peoplewere used to buttons and dials and touchscreen was still new,ofcourse people are going to like one over the other if they are used to it. I used to hate the touch screen in my truck also, once I got used to it it was so much less destracting and much faster to use the touchscreen.

now with my bronco I don't have the touch screen controls, which is going to change soon, but I found because of the screens in vehicles the buttons are getting mounted lower so you have to take your eyes off the road and look down, then to top it all off ford made back lit buttons part of the dimming circut so if you have the dash dimmed for driving at night out of the city you can't see the buttons.

 

[Ernest T]

We really need to keep this on subject. What else you do needs not be shared here.

My first thought is to tell you to take a hike. However, I'm going to go with my second thought, which is my post was on topic. This is the title of the thread: "Ford Trying to Figure Out Buttons". Explain to me how my comment about how convenient using a knob is can be is off topic. Several other people voiced their preference or questioned whether there is a difference between a touch screen and physical controls. Why didn't you complain about those posts?

So you think these are on topic.

I need a smoke button in mine ...

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[Red&Bad]

My first thought . . .

Sorry, my mind tends to wander. Unfortunately, it tends to wander into unwholesome territory.

 

[Ernest T]

Sorry, my mind tends to wander. Unfortunately, it tends to wander into unwholesome territory.

No problem. Thank you for the explanation.

 

[Whpony96]

Ernest T that reply from Red& Bad was a dirty joke. It was 100% humor and not to be taken seriously.

 

[Unicorn]

This was a subject that came up before the 25 Bronco Sports came out with sync 4 and the larger screen. You could search the forum (see below for one thread) and the internet for pros and cons of loosing the buttons for larger screens. On my previous searching I have found that there are some manufacturers that went all in on loosing the buttons and have since come back to adding back some buttons. While I do like the larger screen on my 25 Escape, I do miss having buttons for features like climate control and air recirculation where I have to go into a screen to realize it turned off after I turned it on. The lack of buttons can be a distraction for the driver when trying to access features.

the-tyranny-of-touch-screens-may-be-coming-to-an-end.12202

The problem I have with losing buttons for a larger screen... well one of them anyway, is that to some extent it's pointless. The HVAC controls (fan, temp, the button for on and where) as well as heated seat and steering wheel controls are on the bottom of the screen. So the bottom 3/4inch of the screen isn't even used.

It also doesn't need to be done. There is room for both, the larger screen and some more buttons.
We don't need all buttons and knobs or all on the scree, but there is much room for improvement for both.
The knob for volume control is pointless. It's on the steering wheel. I'd much rather have the fan control there. And a temperature control knob. Really those are the two that I want the most. Something I can feel when driving at 70 on the freeway, and I don't have to worry about my finger hitting the wrong button on a rough road. Even bracing my other fingers on the bezel, it still happens that my fingers miss.

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