While car makers showcased new technology at CES 2013, a new customer survey finds they’re failing when it comes to technology in vehicles.
The study finds that input and selection controls account for six of the top 10 most frequent problems owners experience with their factory-installed navigation system. The remaining four problems are the inability to read the text due to size or location; the map not showing enough street names; the system was slow to boot/connect; and the screen lighting not working properly.
“As more than one-half of the top problems relate directly to inputting information and interacting with the navigation system, there is a clear need for manufacturers to improve upon the interaction between the user and the navigation system,” said VanNieuwkuyk.
Another key study finding is the level of interest in voice activation, as 67 percent of owners without voice activation in their vehicle indicate they would want it in their next navigation system, and 80 percent of those with voice activation say they would want it again in their next system. While this is a highly sought-after feature, voice activation satisfaction is 544, the lowest factor score in the study—93 points below the factor with the second lowest score, ease of use. In addition, difficulty using voice activation controls is the third-most-frequently reported problem in the study at 27.8 PP100.
“Smartphones and natural voice recognition have raised owner expectations among all vehicle segments, and manufacturers are not yet meeting these demands,” said VanNieuwkuyk.
Satisfaction with the basic functions of factory-installed navigation systems, such as map routing, declines less than all those measured in the study, indicating they are performing as owners expect them to. However, satisfaction with the ease of using the system—such as connectivity with smartphones, user interface and integration with other media devices in the vehicle—declines more than the other functions measured.
