Category: Articles & Commentaries

Discussions on topics of interest to drivers concerning things they may not understand about their vehicles as well as articles on the future of the auto industry.

The Company’s Problem or the Customer’s Problem?

Who’s Problem is It? Company’s Problem or the Customer’s Problem. A recent headache we had with an online service prompts this post. Nearly every time an attempt is made to use the company’s service, a glitch arises. When the company is contacted, we are walked through the process of clearing the cache and closing and …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2013/01/the-company%e2%80%99s-problem-or-the-customers%e2%80%99-problem/

Least Distracting Typefaces – Is This the Plan?

Least Distracting Typefaces In late September, 2012, an item reported by Automotive News stated that a group at MIT (the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) was doing a study on typefaces that would mitigate driver distraction. That is, typefaces that would be the least distracting. Sure enough, a bit of additional exploration turned up work at …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2012/11/least-distracting-typefaces-is-this-the-plan/

New Car Problem? Your Dealer Wants the Call, No Matter Whose Frustration

A New Car Problem It is an odd conundrum. Car dealers desperately wish that all drivers understood everything about their cars. And yet, given the alternative, the same dealers wants drivers to call them for answers whenever questions come up. Any call is an opportunity to sell service, even warranty service, and the associated relationship …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2012/09/new-car-problem-your-dealer-wants-the-call-no-matter-whose-frustration/

Dazed and Confused: Automakers’ Education Dilemma

Automakers’ Education Dilemma Drivers and automotive service personnel are often very different animals. But they share one trait. New technologies have them all dazed and confused: drivers trying to understand those technologies and service personnel saddled with trying to explain them, and getting those explanations to stick. Despite years of failure, car companies continue to …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2012/08/dazed-and-confused-automakers-education-dilemma/

Automotive Warning Lights: Scrap the Useless System

Is There Any Value in Current Dashboard Symbols? Recent discussions in the automotive press (since deleted) have railed on the uselessness of the check engine light or called for an outright ban of the light and other automotive warning lights. And they’re on to something. Lets face it. Scrap the useless system. The current and …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2012/07/automotive-warning-lights-scrap-a-useless-system/

All Too Common Keyless Ignition Headaches

Keyless Ignition Headaches The development of hybrid vehicles all but required a change in the way a car is started. A hybrid deems itself “Ready” (or not) with the ignition on, and the gasoline engine is started with a press of the gas pedal. Thus were born keyless ignition, or push button start, systems. Well …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2012/06/the-trouble-with-trifles-keyless-ignition-headaches/

Distracted Driving from Outside the Lines

DOT Guidelines The recent U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) release of its guidelines on the topic of distracted driving has spurred a good deal of discussion in the media. The guidelines call for automakers to disable applications in the vehicles center stack or infotainment system that allow drivers to manually access social media, surf the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2012/04/distracted-driving-from-outside-the-lines/