4 ms·

There is a tiny but interesting community around the concept of low-tech that is about that, and more : objects you understand (since you build them) and can re

by pjerem 5y ago

There is a tiny but interesting community around the concept of low-tech that is about that, and more : objects you understand (since you build them) and can repair yourself. About the industrial production of such analog objects, I have the intuition (maybe I’m wrong) that we lost the knowledge of how to build complex mechanical objects at scale. Those objects used to require a huge design work where now, all you have to do is a plastic case enclosing a chip and some software developers to bring it to life.

NewAccount78 5y ago
Try talking against big tech openly on HN and see what happens to your account.
- asdff 5y ago
  In my experience talking against big tech openly gets upvoted to the tops of the comment threads
bserge 5y ago
Objects such as?
- kingsuper20 5y ago
  You know, that's a good question. Maybe sewing machines? Typewriters? Linotype machines? I admit that it's all a mixed bag. Common use of microcontrollers allows more cleverly designed electric hand drills at lower cost, but they are mechanically more poorly made than in days of yore. Cars strike me as having the same problem, partly in the ability to design with computers, not just having a computer in the loop. Major components (transmissions, rear ends, etc.) used to be built in a much more beefy way partly because they were just guessing. Luckily we are all free agents. We can buy old or we can buy new.
selfhoster11 5y ago
What we lost in the existing body of knowledge, I'm sure we gained back in the ability to simulate the entire mechanical system virtually. Trial-and-error is much easier when your turn-around time is shorter, and when you don't have to contend with losses of expensive raw materials/components expended on each trial (stripped gears/unmatched springs, etc). And this time round, the record can be made in a digital format, so we won't lose it for future generations.

by pjerem 5y ago

NewAccount78 5y ago

Try talking against big tech openly on HN and see what happens to your account.

asdff 5y ago
In my experience talking against big tech openly gets upvoted to the tops of the comment threads

bserge 5y ago

Objects such as?

kingsuper20 5y ago
You know, that's a good question. Maybe sewing machines? Typewriters? Linotype machines? I admit that it's all a mixed bag. Common use of microcontrollers allows more cleverly designed electric hand drills at lower cost, but they are mechanically more poorly made than in days of yore. Cars strike me as having the same problem, partly in the ability to design with computers, not just having a computer in the loop. Major components (transmissions, rear ends, etc.) used to be built in a much more beefy way partly because they were just guessing. Luckily we are all free agents. We can buy old or we can buy new.

selfhoster11 5y ago

What we lost in the existing body of knowledge, I'm sure we gained back in the ability to simulate the entire mechanical system virtually. Trial-and-error is much easier when your turn-around time is shorter, and when you don't have to contend with losses of expensive raw materials/components expended on each trial (stripped gears/unmatched springs, etc). And this time round, the record can be made in a digital format, so we won't lose it for future generations.