Apple prides itself the simplicity, elegance and functionality of its products– things that make up my own design sensibility. However their Touchbar for MacBooks, while superficially fulfilling the aforementioned criteria, in reality falls woefully short. I don’t understand today’s obsession with touch controls. Some things are just better controlled with buttons. Screens freeze, and while the electronics behind a button can freeze in a similar way at least there is something to tap over and over again in the hopes that something will happen. It’s mildly comforting. When a device is completely controlled by a touch screen and that screen turns off, I feel completely powerless. It is important to consider this situation as part of the environment being designed. I don’t feel that Apple’s touch bar is particularly well designed for times when things in the machine go wrong.
