Unnecessary use of Technology

[89AKurt]

  On 12/22/2020 at 2:18 AM, Bills72sj said:

[...] If you are in California I am going to make a prediction. If you have a fancy wifi thermostat, the day is coming where the state will decide FOR you what temperature your house can be during high electricity demand. Just you wait and see.

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Don't get me going about all that!  ?

Interesting most of the talk revolves around our vehicles, no surprise.  No talk about getting chipped so we can toss our credit cards.  ?  My 2016 Honda has been a good car so far, with the exception of the electronic center screen for running the radio, HVAC.  When the time changes, I have to set the clock, because the car does not know it lives in AZ.  But I'm having a glitch happening, going over a rough right turn, it beeps and goes to another screen, sometimes I can set it back, but a few times it beeps like crazy.  I've had to stop the car, shut off, then re-start (reboot).  The stealer says they can't fix it, need a new unit for $1,300, and my warranty just ran out.  I'll have to live with it.

I have this to give contrast.  I think the only electronic part is in the distributor.  Wait, just put in a new one wire alternator, so might be a chip in there.  Need to have a different mindset while driving this truck, especially when morons cut right in front of me.  So, for anyone who wants to complain, just buy a classic vehicle.

[Bills72sj]

  On 12/22/2020 at 5:15 AM, 89AKurt said:

I have this to give contrast.  I think the only electronic part is in the distributor.  Wait, just put in a new one wire alternator, so might be a chip in there.  Need to have a different mindset while driving this truck, especially when morons cut right in front of me.  So, for anyone who wants to complain, just buy a classic vehicle.

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I have this and it still has points.

[peter31a]

  On 12/22/2020 at 5:15 AM, 89AKurt said:

Don't get me going about all that!  ?

Interesting most of the talk revolves around our vehicles, no surprise.  No talk about getting chipped so we can toss our credit cards.  ?  

 

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Actually, I did mention bio hacking and trans humanism. There are already people out there that have implanted chips  themselves or have had chips implanted into them for just such a purpose. Watched an hour documentary about this practice recently. To me it's downright scary that people are willing to do this to themselves and many are impatient to be able to do more of this type of thing. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

  On 12/22/2020 at 2:26 PM, peter31a said:

Actually, I did mention bio hacking and trans humanism... To me it's downright scary that people are willing to do this to themselves and many are impatient to be able to do more of this type of thing. 

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The idea of having vastly augmented capabilities is intriguing to me...like being able to download instant mastery of, say, the Russian-language or quantum physics...an eventual theoretical possibility...sidestepping months or years of conventional study.

What bothers me is today's propensity to rush to market with less-than-adequate development...by second and third and fourth rate engineers and developers and marketing-managers, planned obsolescence, and a likely lack of long-term support (the Tinylimp model of forcing everyone to buy all new operating systems periodically).

The "smart-home" industry is already plagued by problems like these, from many web-connected devices being wide open to easy hacking, lack of compatibility and standardization across multiple platforms, and poor after-purchase service and parts availability.

                                                                         

 

Edited December 22, 2020 by Ace-Garageguy

[1972coronet]

It seems as though the modern world is becoming a little more Burroughs and Kafka than "merely" Orwellian .

[bobthehobbyguy]

Technology is just a tool. It can be a positive or a negative depending on it use.

The safety enhancements to cars is great if used properly. The hazard with the collison avoidence and other aids is that they can make someone think they don't have to pay attention while driving and fiddle with their phone.

The other downside to technology is being too dependent on it. How many can use a paper map? How many can do simple math? Technology can cause people to lose important skills.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

  On 12/22/2020 at 3:20 PM, bobthehobbyguy said:

Technology is just a tool...

The...downside to technology is being too dependent on it.

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My thoughts exactly.

As long as "technology" is just another tool in the box, it's great. I do lotsa stuff much faster because of today's tech than I ever could in times past.

But not EVERYTHING.

Unfortunately, and realistically, there is a vast segment of the populace who can do absolutely nothing if there's no app for it.

[espo]

Saw a bit on TV the other night about every day devices now in use in many homes. Much like Lexa changing your music, and listening to everything you say. Many of the interactive toys our children play with are recording everything also. The thing that got my attention the most was a chew tool for your dog. We no longer have a dog so we're not in the know of what all is available for them to chew on, but it seems that their is now an electronic device that they can chew on much like the old raw hide bones we used to give our dog that will now tell you exactly what their heart rate and location are.  As for the automobile many of the so called improvements in the general operation are there to compensate for the deficiency of the vehicle operator.     

Edited December 22, 2020 by espo
additional information

[Joe Handley]

  On 12/22/2020 at 4:29 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

My thoughts exactly.

As long as "technology" is just another tool in the box, it's great. I do lotsa stuff much faster because of today's tech than I ever could in times past.

But not EVERYTHING.

Unfortunately, and realistically, there is a vast segment of the populace who can do absolutely nothing if there's no app for it.

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Realistically, they may not even be all that good at it with the app too?

[Tom Geiger]

Ironically people are using the Internet to complain about technology! ?

[peteski]

  On 12/22/2020 at 9:11 PM, Tom Geiger said:

Ironically people are using the Internet to complain about technology! ?

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Is it ironic?  I use Internet as a tool, and I could get by without it.  I suspect many other respondents in this thread are like me.  I don't use a smart phone or have any of my appliances on the Interwebs.  Maybe because I work as a tech support engineer for large computer company, and I'm aware of all the security problems caused by poorly designed computerized devices, I choose to limit the technology around me. I don't need all the conveniences of all those "smart" devices - I have a brain that still works - I can do things myself.

Also, this is not complaining about technology - if you haven't noticed, it is about overuse of that technology.  I really don't need a smart thermostat and an app on a smart phone that allows me to check and tweak the temperature in my house. 

Edited December 22, 2020 by peteski

[tbill]

.....idiocracy......

[89AKurt]

How about this $154 MILLION mansion, full of the latest technology.  Must be nice.

How Bill Gates' 1997 house set the stage for modern smart homes

[Oldcarfan27]

  On 12/19/2020 at 7:03 PM, 1972coronet said:

Backup Cameras are almost necessary in some vehicles ( e.g. , poor visibility through the backlight ; no rearward-visibility with vans or box trucks , etc. ) , but are otherwise another "no-need-to-pay-attention-to-your-surroundings" device . 

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I never understood the manufacturer rationale for including standard b/u cameras and parking sensors in small, low profile, open glass hatchbacks but nary installing them in cargo vans, RVs, box trucks and small window sports cars.

Seems counter-productive to me.

Why not include the safety features on vehicles that need them most?

[Danno]

  On 12/23/2020 at 5:49 AM, Oldcarfan27 said:

I never understood the manufacturer rationale for including standard b/u cameras and parking sensors in small, low profile, open glass hatchbacks but nary installing them in cargo vans, RVs, box trucks and small window sports cars.

Seems counter-productive to me.

Why not include the safety features on vehicles that need them most?

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It's not a matter of manufacturers' rationale.  It's Federal safety mandates.  Back up cameras are required on all passenger vehicles, but trucks and commercial vehicles are not included. 'Small window sports cars'?  I dunno what you're referring to, but most likely exempt due to being exotics and other-category low production vehicles.

Don't scratch your head. It's not a mystery, the manufacturers have no say in the matter.

??