In a world obsessed with touchscreens, shiny interfaces and the promise of a hyper-connected digital future, something unexpected is happening. The humble buttons, switches and levers – those analogue controls we thought were relegated to the past – are making a strong comeback. From the dashboards of our cars to the panels of our washing machines, analogue technology is reclaiming its place. Is it a sign of a new trend or just nostalgia? I'd say it's much more than that.
Over the past decade, we've witnessed a massive migration of functions to touchscreens. The allure of modernity and the promise of a more integrated user experience seduced us. Manufacturers, eager to ride the wave of innovation, replaced physical buttons with digital interfaces, often complex and unintuitive.
The result, in many cases, has been frustrating. Adjusting the volume of the radio while driving became a task that required looking away from the road, navigating through menus and submenus, and precisely tapping a point on a touch-sensitive screen. Actions that we once performed instinctively, with a simple twist of the wrist, now demanded our full attention, distracting us from what was essential.
And it's not just about driving. Programming the washing machine, adjusting the oven temperature or simply turning on the car radio, everyday tasks that were once solved with a couple of buttons, became cumbersome and sometimes exasperating. The promise of digital simplicity was transformed into unnecessary complexity.
Why has this happened? The answer is simple: we are analog beings. Our senses, our way of interacting with the world, are analog. We touch, we turn, we press. These actions are innate, they do not require a complex learning process. A button, a lever, a switch, gives us an immediate tactile response, a physical confirmation of the action performed. We don't need to look to know that we've turned up the volume, we feel it in the resistance of the dial.
Touch screens, on the other hand, lack that immediacy. They require visual precision, an attention that we often cannot afford, especially in dynamic environments such as driving. In addition, the lack of tactile feedback forces us to look at the screen to confirm that we have performed the desired action. This visual dependence increases the cognitive load and, consequently, the risk of error.
Another factor to take into account is cost. Buttons, switches, etc... are cheap and reliable components, with a long history of development and optimization. They are simple to manufacture and their durability is proven. Touch screens, on the other hand, are more complex and expensive components, susceptible to failure and with a more limited lifespan.
The industry is finally recognizing this miscalculation. Car manufacturers, pressured by user complaints, are reintroducing analog controls in their most recent models. Buttons for climate control, dials for radio volume, levers for turn signals. Essential functions that require an immediate and precise response.
The same is happening in other sectors. Appliances, audio equipment, even consumer electronics are regaining the simplicity and effectiveness of analog controls. It's not about giving up the advantages of touch screens, but about finding a balance, using the right technology for each function.
Screens are great for displaying complex information, maps, images, videos. They're ideal for navigating menus and accessing secondary functions. But for actions that require a quick and intuitive response, buttons, switches and levers are still the best option.
Ultimately, it's a question of ergonomics, of adapting technology to our needs and capabilities. We are analog beings in an increasingly digital world. And at that interface between analog and digital, the humble buttons and levers have proven to be indispensable. The analog revolution is not a step backwards, but a step forward towards a technology that is more human, more intuitive and, ultimately, more efficient. It is a reminder that technology should serve us, not the other way around. And sometimes, the simplest solution is the best.
EN 
ES