Rethinking the User Experience for the Gas and Brake Pedals

In automobiles, the way we use gas and brake pedals was designed over 80 years ago. The mechanical connection of the pedals to the actual motor and brakes paid a big role in the design decision. Now, in 2010, transmissions and technologies changed, but the user experience remained the same. Here's a great story from the New York Times about how we should rethink design from the user's point of view:

Gas-and-Brake Pedal Gets New Look After Recalls