Comment by jibal

14 hours ago

The headline wasn't written by Volvo.

Does the font improve safety and is that the motivation, or not?

There are comments here like "They should instead focus on their overall software stability and usability", and spankalee is correctly pointing out that it's a false dichotomy.

5 comments

jibal

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quadrifoliate  2 hours ago

> The work of London-based type design studio Dalton Maag, the new typeface is designed ‘to improve readability, sharpen attention, and promote a calmer, safety-focused driving experience.’

That's a quote from either Volvo or the designer. You're right -- it doesn't explicitly say that this was a quote from Volvo; but I'd be a bit surprised if a well-known designer was just making that up without it being part of the shared vision around the work.

And if that's true, the critics are correct. Volvo should be putting in physical buttons to make safer cars. Instead, they are claiming some bullshit "early adopter" status and putting in large amounts of control and information on an unsafe touchscreen to save money.

Casually window dressing this designer work as a "safe" typeface smacks of trying to cover up shoddy mistakes, and they need to be called out for that obfuscation specifically.

mikestorrent  13 hours ago

I think the font looks lovely. Great touches.

I have a Volvo with Android Automotive. And I think touchscreens in cars are trash, and Android particularly so; the latency is horrendous, the rear-view camera only works 50% of the time, everything just feels like the cheapest trash Android tablet from a decade ago.

I really wish this car just had physical controls and a double-din Carplay deck from Pioneer or whatever, the experience would be so much better.

I honestly believe I'm going to get into an accident in a parking lot due to the horrendous sight lines and unreliable camera.

  • buran77  2 hours ago

    > I think the font looks lovely. Great touches.

    Looks nice but nothing outstanding or particularly legible, compared to the many fonts developed for this purpose already. I think they wanted their own identity and there's nothing wrong with that. But the "designed for safety" part feels like a gimmick to tie into their branding.

    Car manufacturers change their logo or font occasionally to send a message, solidify a brand identity, of course it won't be in any way related to any of the engineering of the car.

    > Android Automotive. And I think touchscreens in cars are trash, and Android particularly so; the latency is horrendous

    I don't own a Volvo but I've seen the infotainment system in action on their premium cars (XC60/XC90/EX90). If I were to be in the market for a new car in that category, the infotainment and "Volvo's close relationship with Google", to quote the article, would single handedly cross Volvo out from my list.

  • jibal  13 hours ago

    This in no way responds to anything I wrote ... perhaps you meant to post it at the top level.