> "The problem isn’t really that complicated: originally the defroster icon was visible on the bottom. With the latest December 2021 update it is now hidden behind the temperature indicator. Tapping the temperature brings up a sub-window with the defroster icon."
Even after reading that, I had to look at the pictures again, and read the paragraph again to find where you are supposed to tap. When they simplified the UI, they also removed the degrees symbol and the fan.
Seeing as how 60-70 are both reasonable temperatures in Fahrenheit and speeds in miles per hour, it is not at all clear at a glance what that number means.
> When they simplified the UI, they also removed the degrees symbol and the fan.
This, I believe, is the real point of failure. The value of reorganizing the icons into sub-menus can be debated, but some of the details that were removed in the course of this change appear to have been critical.
There is a concept in UX design called "information scent" – the combination of spatial, contextual, and cultural cues that clue a user in to where they can find what they're looking for. Simply keeping the fan icon next to the temperature display/button might have been enough to make the mental connection for the OP (and likely countless others).
Of course, this is the kind of thing that tends to shake out in user testing, and I'm very surprised that this appears not to have shown up in the testing I would assume Tesla must do with any change to the dashboard, certainly one this fundamental.
I somewhat disagree. My brain does not see a climate control button and think "that button which can control fan speed and cabin temperature probably also controls the weakly-related function of window demisting".
I would have no trouble adapting one I knew, but I doubt that I would find it for myself. And relying upon users discovering where functions are located by randomly pressing buttons is a bad UX/interface for a vehicle IMO.
I agree with all of this, but the assertion that some are making that the window demisting is weakly related to the climate control system seems very odd.
It's literally a function of the climate control system, and is almost always part of the same set of buttons as temp/fans etc in a car with hard buttons.
When you push the demist button, air is directed to the windscreen, by the same system that directs air to your face or feet.
I can understand why people would consider window de-misting weakly related to climate control.
The use of climate control to de-mist a windscreen is pure implementation detail, and I don’t think the Model 3 even uses climate control for de-misting, instead relying on resistive heaters embedded in the windscreen.
Personally I associate climate control and the temperature setting with personal comfort. But de-misting is a core driving control, and sits along side wipers, lights, fog lights etc. I use all those to drive safely, and expect them to be within easy reach of the driver and readily available. Climate I’m happy to have in a sub-menu, because I can always wait to adjust the temperature if I’m dealing with tricky road conditions, same doesn’t apply to de-fogging equipment (which may, or may not, involve the climate control).
> Seeing as how 60-70 are both reasonable temperatures in Fahrenheit and speeds in miles per hour, it is not at all clear at a glance what that number means.
I would not even consider the speed being on the center console so I’d have assumed it would be the temperature either way.
However in all the cars I’ve used that would either be completely inanimate (as affordance as it would be easy to hit when trying to increase or decrease the temperature), or it would lead to extended climate control configuration (e.g. vent speed, multi-zone temps, …).
I’d never think of looking for the defroster there though: while defrosting uses the same hardware as climate control (heating and vents), it’s not actually the same function.
What’s funny is… the center screen is exactly where the speed is, as in the Model 3 there is no other screen. So this is a completely legitimate confusion.
> I would not even consider the speed being on the center console so I’d have assumed it would be the temperature either way.
When I saw it in the article, I actually initially assumed that it was the speed set for cruise control, as it lacked a degree symbol and had up/down symbols suggesting that it can be adjusted in increments. The up/down symbols suggests to me that it cannot be tapped to access other functionality, but that I should tap the arrow to adjust the number.
Cars like the model 3 use resistive heaters built into the windscreen to de-mist, so hitting that button doesn’t always result in the climate control running full tilt.
I didn’t even realise it could be a temperature, as it has no units, and temperatures are in Celsius over here: 70 is just not possible, unless it’s about the engine oil temperature…
> Seeing as how 60-70 are both reasonable temperatures in Fahrenheit and speeds in miles per hour, it is not at all clear at a glance what that number means.
Maybe some brainiac at Tesla thought that you can just accelerate/brake to figure that out. :D
> ...Seeing as how 60-70 are both reasonable temperatures in Fahrenheit and speeds in miles per hour, it is not at all clear at a glance what that number means.
In my view, the actual cabin temp reading is not of such importance to be on the main view panel as such. Maybe just some +/- warm/cold controls. I'm not into measurements, just immediate comfort.
If needed, then, sure, detailed info/climate subscreen.
But defroster/defogger button must be visible, just for the sake of "least surprise" principle!
Even after reading that, I had to look at the pictures again, and read the paragraph again to find where you are supposed to tap. When they simplified the UI, they also removed the degrees symbol and the fan.
Seeing as how 60-70 are both reasonable temperatures in Fahrenheit and speeds in miles per hour, it is not at all clear at a glance what that number means.
(Disclosure, I work for GM)