4 ms·
Sure, it all depends on how you define a "blank slate". The whole world of engineering is a huge stack, and near the bottom are things like smelting iron and ma
by alexlarsson 9y ago
Sure, it all depends on how you define a "blank slate". The whole world of engineering is a huge stack, and near the bottom are things like smelting iron and making plastic, up a few layers you have things like standardized screws, near the top you have things like kernels, databases, etc.
If all these things can be taken as a given, why would you not want to use them? I mean, yes, you can avoid some complexity by making a simple toaster, but the second the consumer wants things like "never burn my toast" or "personalized toast levels" you need to go up the stack.
That said, some IOT things are clearly lame ideas that should never have been made in the first place, but that doesn't mean you should avoid using existing technology.
- titzer 9y ago> If all these things can be taken as a given, why would you not want to use them? When the device breaks, what do we do with it? If it is mostly software, it is not user serviceable, whereas something with a spring and clips and wires is something that a curious person armed with a screwdriver could disassemble and fix. I fear that software is ushering in an age where users are absolutely helpless when something breaks. Then we get big stupid bricks with chips in them.
- maxerickson 9y agoThe complexity can be worth it. Take electronic fuel injection. Uses less fuel, has a better power band, has a wider range of self correction.
- alexlarsson 9y agoCars are actually a great example of where things have become highly complex, which means that they are now essentially impossible to fix yourself. On the other hand, for regular day-to-day use they are a lot better.