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> What's the reason for such a sad state of technology? I think being pioneers is one factor, so they are first to adopt some technologies and then there are p
by JorgeGT 7y ago
> What's the reason for such a sad state of technology?
I think being pioneers is one factor, so they are first to adopt some technologies and then there are procedures and backwards compatibility to maintain. For instance, a while ago I learned that charging using the raised numbers in credit cards can be done still in some places in the US. In my country credit cards arrived much later, skipping that phase, and so we didn't have technical/procedural debt when transitioning to NFC credit card reading/mobile apps.
Similar things happen in many other fields, I think it is one of the hidden costs of being first adopters. For instance banks and airliners where pioneers in the use of IT, and now many are stuck with obsolete mainframes, languages and GUIs. The grocery shop around the corner adopted IT just a few years ago, and they have a shiny, modern tactile system instead of a green phosphor GUI done in COBOL.
- gruez 7y ago>For instance, a while ago I learned that charging using the raised numbers in credit cards can be done still in some places in the US. In my country credit cards arrived much later, skipping that phase, and so we didn't have technical/procedural debt when transitioning to NFC credit card reading/mobile apps. What technical debt? Having to put raised lettering on credit cards?
- JorgeGT 7y agoI don't remember the details since it was a while ago but apparently for instance they couldn't have virtual/multiple accounts in one physical card because raised numbers for the account were desired, in line with: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/05/03/embossed_credit_cards_are_here_to_stay/ https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/05/03/embossed_credit_car...