Pointless technology

[xoggoth]

Why are so many things done in a complicated manner just because they can?

Examples

a) Bogs on Midland trains. You have to press open and wait for a very expensive looking curved door to slide back. Once inside you have to press the close button then, once it starts flashing the the lock button. Bet it's not just me has pressed the alarm button trying to get water in the basin either! (It's sensor activated after a delay)

b) Car CD players. Loads of little function buttons with tiny writing. Hello, its a car!! - you need something dead simple for safety!

c) Car compasses. I have looked everywhere for one of those little stick on things. Really handy in a strange city. All you can get now is digital ones at £35 a time. You have to drive round in a circle to calibrate them. If not calibrated theye are not just inaccurate, they are completely wrong. Lose the calibabration and you could end up going to Dover via Glasgow.

[Churchill]

Why are so many things done in a complicated manner just because they can?

c) Car compasses. I have looked everywhere for one of those little stick on things. Really handy in a strange city. All you can get now is digital ones at £35 a time. You have to drive round in a circle to calibrate them. If not calibrated theye are not just inaccurate, they are completely wrong. Lose the calibabration and you could end up going to Dover via Glasgow.

Should've payed attention in your girl-guides map reading class then, eh?

Try learning how to read road-signs. A compass in a car, whatever next, a nodding dog? Oooops!

[WageSlave]

I often travel to Dover via Glasgow.

The Gorbals are so scenic.

Be honest, Zeit, you only go by that route to avoid David Icke. Ever since he started preaching the dangers of giant lizards from space, your card's been marked.

[OwlHoot]

Why are so many things done in a complicated manner just because they can?

Any why are some things so difficult to open, like plastic sandwich cases? An old timer with arthritic fingers would never be able to open one of them, or access the slide out keyboard on my latest toy, an Xda.

The hilarious thing is you need fingers like an oakum picker to slide it out, but then the keys are so tiny you need fingers like a pixie to work them (or use the stylus I guess).