Oppo QOTD: When Should Technology Stop?

"Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis" (Dwhite95)
06/08/2014 at 12:23 • Filed to: None

The "Super" car article got me thinking, when should technology stop? If you look at the pieces of tech in cars today their purpose is to make up for the weakness of the population. Voice activation is meant to keep your eyes on the road, back up camera's are meant to show you areas that you can physically see your self, airbags are built to protect your fleshy body, and automatic transmissions are more consistent and just as (if not more) fuel efficient as its manual counterpart. But it all comes at a cost, literally and figuratively. At what point does the cost outweigh the possible benefits.

DISCUSSION (16)

McMike > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
06/08/2014 at 12:28

I think the mid-00s is where we peaked as auto manufacturing.

Cars had never been (or had been) more reliable, yet they were still fairly simple.

Since then, what have we gained besides nanny-tech and WOW complicated touchscreen stuff and gadget features.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
06/08/2014 at 12:28

Should have stopped in the late 1980's.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
06/08/2014 at 12:33

I personally think technology should stop when it starts acting over people's responsibility. A parking camera to show a view that can't be seen from the driver's seat (imagine a very large car, like a Chevrolet Tahoe or a Maybach) is perfectly okay with me. A parking camera to show a view that can be seen if you readjust your mirrors or move your head a bit isn't.

It's time we stop this stupidity-friendly society. I'm shocked that we live in a world where cigarette packs must legally come with a warning that smoking is bad for your health.

djmt1 > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
06/08/2014 at 12:36

It shouldn't, technological advancement doesn't kill old favourites despite what the internet chooses to believe and it can lead to some truly great pieces of engineering.

Kinja'd!!!

PardonMyFlemish16 > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
06/08/2014 at 12:51

Technology in and of itself isn't the problem, it's how it's used.

The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
06/08/2014 at 14:31

Excellent question.

But as society gets more stupid and lazy, we try to find ways to make our products smarter and better.

It's a viscous circle... One that won't end anytime soon, if ever.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi7LTr…

wiffleballtony > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
06/08/2014 at 17:02

Depends. Technology that we becomw dependent on is bad. Technology to enhance is good.

Burrito de EJ25 > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
06/09/2014 at 01:58

Never. It should never stop.

Burrito de EJ25 > Goshen, formerly Darkcode
06/09/2014 at 01:59

Uhm, those cameras are meant to show you what's directly behind you. A child, a dog,...etc. Stuff you can't see even in the lowest of cars.

Burrito de EJ25 > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
06/09/2014 at 02:01

Yup. Word.

Boy, did I love all those V8s pushing sub-200 HP figures. That shit was tight. And the fuel efficiency? So dope. So, so dope.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Burrito de EJ25
06/09/2014 at 10:28

I know but then there weren't many computers in cars and emissions wasn't a huge deal.

Burrito de EJ25 > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
06/09/2014 at 10:58

It was a big deal. We were just too stupid to realize it.

Oh, and stop being afraid of computers. They're just machines, too.

JEM > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis
06/09/2014 at 11:25

For me, I think the right point was right after we got ABS working really well, so possibly late 90s or early 00s. That's the last innovation I really want in a car. TC, SC, TPMS, etc.. are things I do not.

I work with computers everyday so I'm not a complete luddite, and I don't want to go back to dealing with carbs (or mechanical fuel injection shudder), but I definitely don't want a car with tons of computerized gizmos and interfaces.

Also, if I can help it, I won't be buying a new car again (except the Elio) until they change from the recent "let's throw more gizmos in!" mentality. I'd much rather automakers make a simpler, more reliable vehicle than one with heated/cooled/power/wi-fi seats that can post ass selfies to instagram.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Burrito de EJ25
06/09/2014 at 11:33

But they control the cars it should be the driver does that.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > Burrito de EJ25
06/09/2014 at 13:59

You can't see a dog behind you in a low car? Please.

Burrito de EJ25 > Goshen, formerly Darkcode
06/09/2014 at 17:43

Sometimes you can't.