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ifeng.com technology news, september 28, in the past two decades, with the rapid development of technology, touch screen technology has swept almost all interactive interfaces of electronic products. major companies are competing to integrate rich and diverse functions into this clickable, user-friendly interface. in the sliding display. however, according to the wall street journal, a recent significant trend shows that traditional physical controls such as buttons, knobs, and sliders are quietly returning in the fields of automobiles, home appliances, and personal electronic products.

"button revival"

in the automotive world, tesla has led the industry with its minimalist touchscreen control panel design, but the style is being revisited by more automakers. companies such as kia, bmw mini and volkswagen are reintroducing physical buttons, knobs and toggle switches in their new models. this change has created new challenges for tesla and its followers in the design of full-touchscreen interiors.

in the field of home appliances and electronic products, a similar phenomenon of "re-buttonization" has appeared in various products, from e-readers to induction cookers. especially apple, as a pioneer in touch screen technology, has added a third physical button to the latest iphone 16 series - the camera control button on the side.

camera control buttons on the side of iphone 16

the “double-edged sword” effect of touch screens

although touch screen technology has brought unprecedented operational convenience and rich functional experience, its excessive use has also exposed some problems. especially in a driving environment, integrating vehicle control functions into touch screen menus can easily distract the driver's attention and increase safety risks. as a result, the european auto safety agency has made it clear that vehicles must be equipped with physical switches and buttons to achieve the highest safety ratings.

the return of physical controls is not only a technical choice, but also a return of emotion and practicality. the tactile and operational feedback they bring often stimulate users' sense of pleasure and satisfaction. for example, the walnut knob on the copper induction cooker allows the chef to adjust the heat without looking. this design is not only practical, but also full of humane care.

the copper induction cooktop has a walnut knob on top so cooks know the heat level without having to look, like a physical knob on a gas range.

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likewise, in 2021, apple announced the re-enabling of physical function keys at the top of the keyboard on macbook pro computers. as early as 2016, apple used an innovative gesture to replace the classic physical buttons with the so-called touch bar, a touch screen strip.

in 2016, apple launched the touch bar on macbook pro laptops to replace physical buttons.

however, apple decided to return to physical buttons this time, explaining that the change was aimed at "bringing back the familiar and intimate feel of mechanical buttons that professional users love so much." (author/han tianshu)

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