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That's something I don't get about US technologist. Everyone says they want progress, but then there's always so many reasons why it shouldn't happen. A relate

by gozo 11y ago

That's something I don't get about US technologist. Everyone says they want progress, but then there's always so many reasons why it shouldn't happen. A related example would be which of these two road that are better suited for self-driving cars or similar technologies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US33SEOH.JPG https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US33SEOH.JPG https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MMLNorr1.JPG https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MMLNorr1.JPG

dredmorbius 11y ago
The nature of technology, and how it's approached, is a pretty fascinating study of and by itself. I've been reading a number of authors on this, off and on, for a few decades (some before I fully realised I was doing so). Included: James Burke, Charles Perrow, W. Brian Arthur, Kevin Kelley, Thomas Kuhn, and Joseph Tainter. The idea that techology is welcomed with open arms is among many false beliefs. Luddite companies (or countries) are far more influential than individuals, workers, or citizens, often dressing their actions in FUD, regulatory opposition (as here), or buying up (and destroying) competition. The truth is that companies are interested in promoting their own technologies, where this provides them with some compelling advantage (usually market segmentation, control, or barriers). What they oppose are requirements to adopt technologies imposed externally, or development of disruptive technologies which, again, generally attack their own market interests and/or power.
Sanddancer 11y ago
You need to keep in mind that US highways, as opposed to interstate highways, tend to be roads of secondary importance these days. In the Los Angeles area, for example, a lot of the formerly federal highways became state highways after they were built up to freeway standards, due to various complicated political reasons. Additionally, there are plenty of stretches of US33 which are full divided highways, looking a lot like https://goo.gl/maps/6vc73fZ9nTz https://goo.gl/maps/6vc73fZ9nTz. In comparison, Swedish route 34 looks like https://goo.gl/maps/Ur45ukH7Yop https://goo.gl/maps/Ur45ukH7Yop outside of town. So both roads are pretty much the same, all things considered, gaining and losing features as the local traffic conditions call for them.

by gozo 11y ago

dredmorbius 11y ago

The nature of technology, and how it's approached, is a pretty fascinating study of and by itself. I've been reading a number of authors on this, off and on, for a few decades (some before I fully realised I was doing so). Included: James Burke, Charles Perrow, W. Brian Arthur, Kevin Kelley, Thomas Kuhn, and Joseph Tainter. The idea that techology is welcomed with open arms is among many false beliefs. Luddite companies (or countries) are far more influential than individuals, workers, or citizens, often dressing their actions in FUD, regulatory opposition (as here), or buying up (and destroying) competition. The truth is that companies are interested in promoting their own technologies, where this provides them with some compelling advantage (usually market segmentation, control, or barriers). What they oppose are requirements to adopt technologies imposed externally, or development of disruptive technologies which, again, generally attack their own market interests and/or power.

Sanddancer 11y ago

You need to keep in mind that US highways, as opposed to interstate highways, tend to be roads of secondary importance these days. In the Los Angeles area, for example, a lot of the formerly federal highways became state highways after they were built up to freeway standards, due to various complicated political reasons. Additionally, there are plenty of stretches of US33 which are full divided highways, looking a lot like https://goo.gl/maps/6vc73fZ9nTz https://goo.gl/maps/6vc73fZ9nTz. In comparison, Swedish route 34 looks like https://goo.gl/maps/Ur45ukH7Yop https://goo.gl/maps/Ur45ukH7Yop outside of town. So both roads are pretty much the same, all things considered, gaining and losing features as the local traffic conditions call for them.