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Commute as a User Experience
How three months in a Tesla changed driving for me forever
When someone says “User Experience”, most of us probably think about the design of software on our computers or phones. We think of buttons, gestures, and controls. But User Experience is much more than that — it is the aggregate gestalt that the user experiencing when interacting with your product. More than ease of use or efficiency, a positive user experience can affect the user’s overall mood and emotional states and even their outlook on life.
I was reminded of this quite strongly in the last few months after buying a new car — a Tesla Model 3 — and using it as my primary commute vehicle. What I found is that the overall experience of my daily driving — my commute UX, if you will — was dramatically transformed.
Whither Tesla
I was never a huge fan of Tesla prior to my purchase. I had friends who raved about their Model S or Model X, but I dismissed them as being unsophisticated. They spoke about how luxurious their cars felt, but I had to assume that they must be comparing it to their Honda Accord and that they had never sat in an actual luxury vehicle. Certainly riding in their cars was nowhere near as nice as my own Mercedes GL-450. Most of the features they discussed — lane keeping, assisted parking, etc…
