Handwriting Recognition (in Audi A4)

Keep seeing a commercial where Audi is touting "handwriting recognition" in the new A4.

Am I the only one doesn't understand why this is a desirable feature (much less one to brag about)? There has literally been no time I've ever been driving my car and though "wow, I wish I could manually write out some kind of word or instruction on my infotainment screen."

Or is this Audi's way of getting around state laws against "texting and driving" lol.....

They've been doing it for a while (since at least 2012, albeit on a small touchpad on the center console rather than the screen).  It's useful for entering address into the built-in nav system if it doesn't understand your voice recognition, for example.

As a lefty that would be somewhere between completely useless and downright dangerous. Of course as someone with absolutely E36 M3ty handwriting it would likely be both anyway. 

The Viking Longbeast has that. As others have said, it's used for the nav and music searches. I don't really use it.

Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) said:

As a lefty that would be somewhere between completely useless and downright dangerous. Of course as someone with absolutely E36 M3ty handwriting it would likely be both anyway. 

Discrimination!!

My take?  Stupidest thing I've ever seen in an automobile.

Guy who only drives because Mom made him leave her basement?  Best thing ever.

What does it do when you draw a big ol Richard? Because I can't be the only one who would try that right off the bat 

My wife's 2014 BMW has that, its really useful to enter an address into the GPS. 

I don't understand the laws about this. If you look at your cell phone they will pull you over for texting and driving (yes I am exaggerating a little) and this is some how ok?  This goes for any touch screen type controles in a car for that matter. 

You dont need to look to write. Its very intuitive. It works. 

dean1484 said:

I don't understand the laws about this. If you look at your cell phone they will pull you over for texting and driving (yes I am exaggerating a little) and this is some how ok?  This goes for any touch screen type controles in a car for that matter. 

Not exaggerating where I live.

I agree with questioning the legality.  And the sense, but a whole bunch of those rules make no sense at all.  I can't hold my phone to my ear, but it's perfectly legal for me to have a conversation about nuclear physics as long as it's hand free.  Stupid.

But, all the cool kids like computers, and hate paying attention to the here and now, so there you go.

Slippery said:

You dont need to look to write. Its very intuitive. It works. 

To be clear, the older ones aren't on the screen up on the dashboard like the photo above suggests.  Instead there's a small square touchpad down to the left of the shifter -- you don't need to look at it because there's nothing to see, you just drop your right hand down and trace out a letter at a time.

Slippery said:

You dont need to look to write. Its very intuitive. It works. 

At the new one you do. 
 

I am more making a general comment about touch screens in general in cars. With no tactile feel you have to look. To me it is a case where technology is making cars more dangerous.