Technology ain't everything(briancarper.net)
briancarper.net
Technology ain't everything
http://briancarper.net/blog/technology-aint-everything
4 comments
Still, I liked his can opener analogy. Yes, robot can openers might help the disabled, but I bet that was not why they were invented. Let's call robot can openers for the disabled a completely different product than robot can openers for non-disabled. Then his point still stands.
But: nothing against tinkering, a ka creating robot can openers just because we can.
But: nothing against tinkering, a ka creating robot can openers just because we can.
Automatic transmissions weren't invented for the disabled either. Would his point stand for those? After all, driving stick is only a little extra effort.
I am not a driver, but I assume automatic transmission make driving easier. The can openers in his example made opening cans more difficult. I don't think he is arguing against technological progress in general.
Anyway, I see it more as a poetical piece. People will vote with their feet/money anyway.
Anyway, I see it more as a poetical piece. People will vote with their feet/money anyway.
The can openers in his example made opening cans more difficult.
Yeah, but his point was nonsensical (or at least hyperbole). He said:
and usually the can ends up half-open, half-bent up to the point where it's un-openable short of dynamite.
Automated can openers usually spoil cans? If that were true, people wouldn't use them because most of their food would go to waste.
Yeah, but his point was nonsensical (or at least hyperbole). He said:
and usually the can ends up half-open, half-bent up to the point where it's un-openable short of dynamite.
Automated can openers usually spoil cans? If that were true, people wouldn't use them because most of their food would go to waste.
Still, why do people buy automated can openers, or electric pepper mills? Unless they are disabled, it just seems to be such a waste.
His experience was that the can openers never worked, but his parents kept trying and buying new models. Maybe by now they work. Still I don't see why anyone would want to have one. Call me a treehugger, but why waste energy and produce toxic waste for something you could easily do manually.
His experience was that the can openers never worked, but his parents kept trying and buying new models. Maybe by now they work. Still I don't see why anyone would want to have one. Call me a treehugger, but why waste energy and produce toxic waste for something you could easily do manually.
You say this like a man who's never been stuck in stop and go traffic for 3 hours a day for 5 years.
His two usage problems - reading in the bathtub and in bed are easily solved.
Bathtub: Zip lock bag. x2 for the safety conscious.
Bed: bent wire hanger http://blog.xkcd.com/2009/04/13/the-pursuit-of-laziness/
The bigger thing to me is how the cell modem in the Kindle changes the dynamics of books. An example: In conversation, one of my friends tells me about a book they recently read.
Rather than a quickly forgotten mental note to look into it the next time I make it to the bookstore, I can download the sample (if available) and start reading. If I'm enjoying it, I can buy it and simply continue reading.
Bathtub: Zip lock bag. x2 for the safety conscious.
Bed: bent wire hanger http://blog.xkcd.com/2009/04/13/the-pursuit-of-laziness/
The bigger thing to me is how the cell modem in the Kindle changes the dynamics of books. An example: In conversation, one of my friends tells me about a book they recently read.
Rather than a quickly forgotten mental note to look into it the next time I make it to the bookstore, I can download the sample (if available) and start reading. If I'm enjoying it, I can buy it and simply continue reading.
Flamebait. Some technologies are better hits than others, and anecdotes about can openers and books don't seem like enough to generalize to the statement "Technology for the sake of technology is a waste of time", which I personally disagree with.
My own anecdote about can openers: I use an old-fashioned one, though my friend's little old grandma has a cool electric one under which she just has to hold the can while it magnetizes the top and cuts it off. She could probably use the old-fashioned can opener, but arthritis is still annoying.
My own anecdote about can openers: I use an old-fashioned one, though my friend's little old grandma has a cool electric one under which she just has to hold the can while it magnetizes the top and cuts it off. She could probably use the old-fashioned can opener, but arthritis is still annoying.
People create a lot of this "excess" technology not for its usefulness, but because someone out there will buy it from them.
Is it really that hard to turn a handle for 10 seconds?
No, Mr I'm Not Disabled. It's not hard for us to get up and change the channel on the TV by hand or to walk a mile to WalMart and carry our groceries home each day either.
Do we really need computer-controlled robotic can-opening devices?
Did we really need to go to the moon? Not really, but the effort of doing so spawned a number of significant industries.
Did pg really need to set up a small system for us to post links and stories? Not really, but the relationships and knowledge that have come from it greatly eclipse his plans for it at the time.
Did Linus Torvalds need to play around with making his own small operating system? Not really. We all know what came of that, though.
With technology, intentions don't count for much; the unintended results can easily reach a long way. Perhaps the e-book or the robotic can opening device will inspire unrelated inventions.