[will]

"The "Command Center" system, designed with Visteon, is user-friendly and well executed, though may take some getting used to by those who are less comfortable or familiar with digital interfaces."

http://www.coolhunting.com/tech/2012-fisker-karma.php

There isn't much to say other than;

BULLSHIT.

 

[Fabulist]

At least this part is correct:

"The "Command Center" system, designed with Visteon, ... may take some getting used to by those who are ... familiar with digital interfaces."

I am very familiar with digital interfaces and still trying to get used to the command center.

 

[Sigurd]

It certainly isn't the most intuitive interface I've ever used, but I am starting to get used to it. I just wish that the upper border was darker than the light gray as it is impossible to see the time in white at the upper right corner. There just isn't enough contrast there.

 

[brian]

"The "Command Center" system, designed with Visteon, is user-friendly and well executed, though may take some getting used to by those who are less comfortable or familiar with digital interfaces."

http://www.coolhunting.com/tech/2012-fisker-karma.php

There isn't much to say other than;

BULLSHIT.

Hahahaha!!! Yeah. Whoever wrote that must have been a UI designer for Microsoft in the 90's if they think that's even remotely a decent user interface.

-Brian

 

[SoCalGuy]

I think the actual UI look and feel is not bad at all, save for a few things like not being able to touch the point in the AC you want, or digitally enter your FM radio station, ... too much analog mimicry IMO... but that said, the colors/coolness is pretty neat. Now if it could only be as responsive as an iPad....

Disclaimer: None of the above comments relate to the Navi system which is FAR and AWAY the WEAKEST point of the software. Even the free Waze app on my iphone is way better than the Karma's nav.

 

[brian]

I think the actual UI look and feel is not bad at all, save for a few things like not being able to touch the point in the AC you want, or digitally enter your FM radio station, ... too much analog mimicry IMO... but that said, the colors/coolness is pretty neat. Now if it could only be as responsive as an iPad....

Interesting. I'm surprised that you actually like the colors because that's one of the things I hate the most. The grey-on-grey color scheme is impossible to read during a sunny day. Not enough contrast, and it's impossible to tell what's "On" and what's "Off". On some screens the highlighted button is actually OFF, and on some the red text indicates on while on other screens red text indicates off. I just have to guess half the time.

-Brian

 

[Fabulist]

I think the actual UI look and feel is not bad at all, save for a few things like not being able to touch the point in the AC you want, or digitally enter your FM radio station, ... too much analog mimicry IMO... but that said, the colors/coolness is pretty neat. Now if it could only be as responsive as an iPad....

Interesting. I'm surprised that you actually like the colors because that's one of the things I hate the most. The grey-on-grey color scheme is impossible to read during a sunny day. Not enough contrast, and it's impossible to tell what's "On" and what's "Off". On some screens the highlighted button is actually OFF, and on some the red text indicates on while on other screens red text indicates off. I just have to guess half the time.

-Brian

The UI is highly stylized, to be sure, and is not really the cleanest or most intuitive interfaces as functionality goes. My personal pet peeves are: (1)the way you have to step through the settings menu by using the scroll keeps at the top and bottom of the screen to bring up the particular group and setting you want rather than a clean table-like interface that would take advantage of the vast empty spaces on the big screen and make the selection process faster and easier; and (2) the lack of a persistent display of basic information (Volume, Audio Source, Temp. Setting, Now Playing, Telephone Signal Level) at top or bottom of the screen that could be seen regardless of the specific screen being displayed or a top level or home screen that display this information from their respective screens.

The NAV system is much maligned, but my recent experience with a late model JAG nav system reminded me that the Fisker NAV system is not really as bad as we make it out to be, just not as good as some of the other systems available, such as the NAV system in our Benz ML-350 that is much more advanced and powerful in a lot of respects than the Fisker Nav system.

 

[Sigurd]

I think the actual UI look and feel is not bad at all, save for a few things like not being able to touch the point in the AC you want, or digitally enter your FM radio station, ... too much analog mimicry IMO... but that said, the colors/coolness is pretty neat. Now if it could only be as responsive as an iPad....

Interesting. I'm surprised that you actually like the colors because that's one of the things I hate the most. The grey-on-grey color scheme is impossible to read during a sunny day. Not enough contrast, and it's impossible to tell what's "On" and what's "Off". On some screens the highlighted button is actually OFF, and on some the red text indicates on while on other screens red text indicates off. I just have to guess half the time.

-Brian

Brian, I agree. I have a hard time telling what's on and what's not. Especially in the climate screen. For example, I have no idea when the recirc is on or not.
Cheers,

 

[SoCalGuy]

I think the actual UI look and feel is not bad at all, save for a few things like not being able to touch the point in the AC you want, or digitally enter your FM radio station, ... too much analog mimicry IMO... but that said, the colors/coolness is pretty neat. Now if it could only be as responsive as an iPad....

Interesting. I'm surprised that you actually like the colors because that's one of the things I hate the most. The grey-on-grey color scheme is impossible to read during a sunny day. Not enough contrast, and it's impossible to tell what's "On" and what's "Off". On some screens the highlighted button is actually OFF, and on some the red text indicates on while on other screens red text indicates off. I just have to guess half the time.

-Brian

Well, all screens could stand a consistency check to be sure, but I think Fisker/Visteon do get some points for style... its part of the 'car of the future' theater that they're going for... maybe they should opt for that Star Trek Next Gen look (LCARs? - now I'm revealing my true nerdom here) with a black background and brightly colored buttons... better for contrast, and better for the geeks out there (present company included)

This....

or this....

 

[Sigurd]

I think the actual UI look and feel is not bad at all, save for a few things like not being able to touch the point in the AC you want, or digitally enter your FM radio station, ... too much analog mimicry IMO... but that said, the colors/coolness is pretty neat. Now if it could only be as responsive as an iPad....

Interesting. I'm surprised that you actually like the colors because that's one of the things I hate the most. The grey-on-grey color scheme is impossible to read during a sunny day. Not enough contrast, and it's impossible to tell what's "On" and what's "Off". On some screens the highlighted button is actually OFF, and on some the red text indicates on while on other screens red text indicates off. I just have to guess half the time.

-Brian

Well, all screens could stand a consistency check to be sure, but I think Fisker/Visteon do get some points for style... its part of the 'car of the future' theater that they're going for... maybe they should opt for that Star Trek Next Gen look (LCARs? - now I'm revealing my true nerdom here) with a black background and brightly colored buttons... better for contrast, and better for the geeks out there (present company included)

This....

or this....

Oooh, that second choice would be such an improvement. I can see what's on!

 

[Dutch]

Looks like Tesla also has some more work to do on the touchscreen (@ 0:50 in this short video; sorry for the 15 second ad).

http://www.autojunk.nl/2012/03/tesla-model-s-zo-werkt-het-touchscreen

 

[doug]

Looks like Tesla also has some more work to do on the touchscreen (@ 0:50 in this short video; sorry for the 15 second ad).

http://www.autojunk.nl/2012/03/tesla-model-s-zo-werkt-het-touchscreen

I don't doubt that they still have work to do, but what specifically are you referring to? I just see someone browsing a web page.

 

[will]

This is a great bit of info to read about how customers reacted to Fords touch system:

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/business/after-ratings-drop-ford-reworks-touch-screens.html

 

[Dutch]

Looks like Tesla also has some more work to do on the touchscreen (@ 0:50 in this short video; sorry for the 15 second ad).

http://www.autojunk.nl/2012/03/tesla-model-s-zo-werkt-het-touchscreen

I don't doubt that they still have work to do, but what specifically are you referring to? I just see someone browsing a web page.

At the end of the clip the touchscreen doesn't respond anymore.

Still, I like the interface: big screen, very clear/good contrast and fast enough. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Tesla fan too. Could one day be driving a Tesla next to my Fisker.

 

[avijohnson]

The entertainment system in the Karma is an absolutely piece of crap. I think you can go into any Hyundai dealer, buy a $20k car, and have a better in-dash system. For me, this is the one piece of equipment in the car that completely destroyed my experience with the Karma

 

[doug]

Looks like Tesla also has some more work to do on the touchscreen (@ 0:50 in this short video; sorry for the 15 second ad).

http://www.autojunk.nl/2012/03/tesla-model-s-zo-werkt-het-touchscreen

I don't doubt that they still have work to do, but what specifically are you referring to? I just see someone browsing a web page.

At the end of the clip the touchscreen doesn't respond anymore.

Still, I like the interface: big screen, very clear/good contrast and fast enough. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Tesla fan too. Could one day be driving a Tesla next to my Fisker.

Well who knows what's up with that web page. I don't think the screen stopped responding. The guy just didn't manage to click the link. I'd be more concerned that the scrolling seemed a little sluggish.

I hope that Tesla is paying attention to the issues Fisker is having with their command center and gives owners a better experience at launch.

 

[will]

The entertainment system in the Karma is an absolutely piece of crap. I think you can go into any Hyundai dealer, buy a $20k car, and have a better in-dash system. For me, this is the one piece of equipment in the car that completely destroyed my experience with the Karma

While it hasn't "completely destroyed" my experience, it is like a huge wart on a beautiful girls nose. She also pretends it doesn't exist. You stop wondering what else is going on...

The point I wanted to make by posting the article about the Ford system is that a bad system is _much worse_ than no system at all. If Fisker just had dials, we'd all say "oh wow, its so simple and that was a bold design style because we all have iPads / iPhones anyway".

I emailed Fisker three about fixing it ( I design software, so its doubly upsetting because I deeply see just how bad it is ) and received no reply or even further questions about how it could be fixed.

At worst, I should have gotten an email with some info about their plan. *sigh*

Will

 

[ct-fiskerbuzz]

Many of us do software. I kind of wish they could do an "open system" and allow us to write our own, but I suspect this would have to be at best some sort of "grey market activity" due to Federal regulations etc.

(I don't do UI—I suck at UI—I do OSes and high reliability infrastructure stuff.)

 

[will]

ct-fiskerbuzz - very cool to hear. I may need to ping you about some of that ( unrelated ).

Sorry if it sounded like doing software had anything to do w/ spotting the problems, I meant to express that when you see the results of someone's work you can read into their skill level, gaps in thinking/experience, etc.

 

[kabalah70]

I agree that the constrast sucks, for the Climate screen using the Orange color to indicate something as being on would be a bit more visible than simply white or black on a gray background.