3 ms·

It is amazing how many things that were a solved problem at least 40 years ago continue to be reinvented badly.

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
maxerickson 10y ago
They are now expected to work with less energy and water. https://www.energystar.gov/products/appliances/clothes_washers https://www.energystar.gov/products/appliances/clothes_washe...
Kenji 10y ago
Know-how has to be maintained. Knowledge has to be passed down to the apprentices and juniors. Otherwise it is lost over time and has to be rediscovered/reinvented, often by failures like in the article. Technological progress is never guaranteed or a certainty. Progress is the result of incremental improvements and sustainable hard work.
- emodendroket 10y ago
  I suppose the classic example is concrete. That said, is that really the problem here, or a culture of trying to rush products to the market?
  - mysterypie 10y ago
    Another example is mechanical parts and linkages. In the early 20th century there were many incredibly intricate mechanical devices -- the Curta calculator is an example[1] -- that have been replaced by semiconductors. I wonder if those could even be made today without having to recreate the knowledge and manufacturing processes. [1] https://calculating.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/curta-calculator-breakdown.jpg https://calculating.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/curta-calcul...
    - emodendroket 10y ago
      I mean I think even techniques from animation pre-computer may be hard to do today.
    - vvanders 10y ago
      A coworker had one of those and brought it in one day, an absolute marvel to behold.
roseburg 10y ago
This. I shared this link above, but I wrote a post on it. It's really sad what's happened to the appliance industry. http://recraigslist.com/2015/10/they-used-to-last-50-years/ http://recraigslist.com/2015/10/they-used-to-last-50-years/
flamedoge 10y ago
it's an insult to add 'invent' when all it does is re-skin with touchscreens.

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

They are now expected to work with less energy and water. https://www.energystar.gov/products/appliances/clothes_washers https://www.energystar.gov/products/appliances/clothes_washe...

Kenji 10y ago

Know-how has to be maintained. Knowledge has to be passed down to the apprentices and juniors. Otherwise it is lost over time and has to be rediscovered/reinvented, often by failures like in the article. Technological progress is never guaranteed or a certainty. Progress is the result of incremental improvements and sustainable hard work.

emodendroket 10y ago
I suppose the classic example is concrete. That said, is that really the problem here, or a culture of trying to rush products to the market?
- mysterypie 10y ago
  Another example is mechanical parts and linkages. In the early 20th century there were many incredibly intricate mechanical devices -- the Curta calculator is an example[1] -- that have been replaced by semiconductors. I wonder if those could even be made today without having to recreate the knowledge and manufacturing processes. [1] https://calculating.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/curta-calculator-breakdown.jpg https://calculating.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/curta-calcul...
  - emodendroket 10y ago
    I mean I think even techniques from animation pre-computer may be hard to do today.
  - vvanders 10y ago
    A coworker had one of those and brought it in one day, an absolute marvel to behold.

roseburg 10y ago

This. I shared this link above, but I wrote a post on it. It's really sad what's happened to the appliance industry. http://recraigslist.com/2015/10/they-used-to-last-50-years/ http://recraigslist.com/2015/10/they-used-to-last-50-years/

flamedoge 10y ago

it's an insult to add 'invent' when all it does is re-skin with touchscreens.