From particle accelerators to the iPad: 41 years of car touchscreens

Summary: Touchscreens revolutionised vehicle control systems, beginning with Buick’s 1985 Electronic Control Centre. Though invented earlier, practical automotive applications emerged in the 1980s, replacing numerous physical controls. Early adoption faced resistance due to reliability concerns and user preference for traditional interfaces, but touchscreen technology eventually became ubiquitous in modern vehicles.

Brands mentioned: Buick, General Motors, MG, Toyota