In a Crosstrek thread, having alternate control types for critical features was brought up - specifically, going all electronic vs having some features with a physical backup, such as the manual emergency brake.
It turns out that the Navy is discontinuing touch screen controls for their ships, as it was a major causative factor in a collision.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/370122/us-na ... m-controls
So, there's obviously something to be said for direct feedback control systems.
Right now, where I can see manufacturers or Congress trying to change things up are/were the following (some good, some bad, some just are):
1) Electronic window controls
2) All Electrical seat controls
3) Drive by wire cars (Tesla)
4) Electronic emergency brakes
5) Back-up cameras instead of large rear windows (and rear-view mirrors)
6) ABS systems (Yes, it's an example of a designed system taking over from training)
7) All electronic door locks (no manual access), including no keys on the outside - touch or fob only.
8) EFI - no ability to adjust anything, and if the computer goes out....
9) All electric fuel pumps
I'm sure there are a stack of others. Mind you, many of these I don't see as a problem. They simply are what they are - changes over time. I think a few are dangerous, such as turning the rear view mirror into a display instead of an adjunct, so you can't actually use it as a mirror, plus the concept of an all electronic parking/emergency brake. Others seem to be working better, such as the electronic fuel pumps. Not sure I like putting them _in_ the gas tank, but I haven't heard of anyone blowing their car into the air from the fuel pump, so it's apparently not that dangerous.
The key, however, is what do you do when the power goes out. If you're outside the car, how do you unlock a touch lock car, so you can open the hood to get to the battery? If you're _inside_ the car, how do you get out? If your electronics fail on the road, you generally have the e-brake and steering left, so you can get off of the road; the engine will also act as a slow brake (or fast one, if you have a standard and lift up on the clutch). With an all electric car, you get to sit and watch what happens
I know that one way to 'assist' would be to have some of the electronics isolated, with a secondary battery _just_ to maintain those systems for a few minutes in a critical situation.
So, suggestions? Comments?