I've commented on touchscreens before[^1], but here's my latest anecdote: we finally got a replacement washing machine in the apartment (owner's choice, not ours). It's top loading and has a touchscreen and a spinny wheel for selecting the program. So it's a hodgepodge of physical, mechnical, electronic, and touch sensitive controls with a screen.
Except it's not a screen at all, the interface is entirely static and the function of each "button" is always the same; so really it's "touch sensitive buttons" with something masquerading as a screen. I don't understand why. They're annoying because they don't always register the touch, and sometimes over register so you go past the option (e.g. setting the timer or spin speed).
Then there's the start/pause/stop button, which is a mechanical switch/button that is also touch sensitive. It boggles the mind, we interact with this thing a couple of times a week - why does it need touch sensitive buttons rather than just being fully mechanical switches?
Except it's not a screen at all, the interface is entirely static and the function of each "button" is always the same; so really it's "touch sensitive buttons" with something masquerading as a screen. I don't understand why. They're annoying because they don't always register the touch, and sometimes over register so you go past the option (e.g. setting the timer or spin speed).
Then there's the start/pause/stop button, which is a mechanical switch/button that is also touch sensitive. It boggles the mind, we interact with this thing a couple of times a week - why does it need touch sensitive buttons rather than just being fully mechanical switches?
[^1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17448932