The fall of Innovation

[DPC]

Let me ask you a different question then 'What kid of tyre do you purchase for your car and why?"

I cant tell you what brand I have on my car or who made them.
They are black round and my purchase had more to do with cost, availability and durability than they did about novel design and the promise of better performance.
All cars today kind of look a like they are more utilitarian than new and novel.

I have no idea who makes anything anymore.
GM no longer makes Fridges, ford no longer makes TV.
Westinghouse no longer makes washing machines and believe it or not GE no longer makes light bulbs...

So who is left to make anything realy?
That's hard to day but if you look at a durable good today they look exactly the same and the actual manufacture of one of only a hand full or remaining companies.
They are the same as the round black tyre you never think about and you shop based on price because they are all the same.

So what does this lack of innovation have on products?
I think it means we are sold a line of very uninteresting and maybe just cheaply made disposable products.
That's my rant...

When is the last time you watched an appliance do something different?

In the early 1960s Stanislaw Lem the Sci-fi writer wrote a book called Suma Technologia. ( meditations on technology, a book no one reads sadly )
In it he said we would run out of good ideas because each leap in development requires more and more manpower and and effort or we stagnate.
I think we have reached that stagnation point.
Nothing new seems to happen and no one invests much time in trying a lot of new and innovative products.

 

[TommySr]

I think we have reached that stagnation point.
Nothing new seems to happen and no one invests much time in trying a lot of new and innovative products.

DPC, while I'm not making light of your observations, my personal observations point to a different conclusion.
because I've had the opportunity to work in the manufacturing industries long term I see no comparison between
then and now, step back to just the 80's where your topical manufacturing operation were line after line of manual
mills/lathes/grinder/boring mills. where today's manufacturing industries looks much different.



if your interested in having a peek at some of the most exciting new technologies today check out
a forum member named Svetz, but you may want to grab a hold of something fixed to the ground first.

we have come a long ways, IMO we are not done yet.

 

[DPC]

We can make great things to much better tolerances and with much better materials.
But consumer products are not all that better than decades ago because their is little pressure beyond making it cheaper..
And they are not all that different from each other because of a lack of competition i guess.

HEY I had one of those planes as a kid too!
Mine was a black byplane however.

Wow getting old eh?

 

[TommySr]

Wow getting old eh?

it's kind of like that frog slow boiling water thing.

 

[Chispas]

From the point of view of the corporation, the best product has the cheapest materials & labour and will last just a bit longer than the guarantee.
As for innovation, the corporations put most of their effort into squeezing more profits from their product, as they always have done. FWD and IFS were all about making production cheaper, with the resulting packaging making modern cars a nightmare to work on.

 

[D71]

Tires.

Remember that time when Ford accused Firestone of making their vehicles roll over. Ford didnt want to admit a design error. Of course Firestone had problems with Firestone 500 coming apart. So .... I drove my car 135mph once and the tires had knots and seperation on them....turns out BF Goodrich were not really performance speed rated. They looked good and everyone had them though. Now you can get tires V speed rated 145mph. The S rated were only 112mph. Of course this is all time limited too.

The Bugatti Veyron tires were rated for slightly more time at top speed then fuel capacity.
Rated around 300 mph for fastest.



The cheap chinese tires get knots sometimes. Hard to balance....lot of weights.

Then there are the all terrain tires too. Hmmmm some brands and makes are much better.

EV use to need a specific speed and load rating. Compounds and side wall designs heights....

There is actually a lot of science and research put into automobile tires those little boat trailer tires use to destroy themselves....did a number on the bearings too. THOSE Little trailer wheels were hauling ass at 60-70mph because of 10 -12 inch size.

We have production cars that can easy run 135mph with ac on now. My old car felt like it was ready to fly away at 135mph. Old hot rods were fun but very crude compared to today.

Motorcycles are same...built custom harley from parts and it would willy wheel by twisting the grip ... EVO torque hp monster - had 6 speed vs old standard 4 or 5 speed. An Old pan head was a slug compared but old pan head sound good and looked cool. Tires are a big consideration for motorcycle. Look at tread contact at warp speed. Rode crotch rockets for a while the old 1970 Honda 750-four is a slug now.

It Honda 750-four was really something back then ..... I wanted one for a long time while growing up.


Watching old mad max movie brings back hay day of Kawasaki 4 cylinders too.

The problem with mass produced chinese goods corners are cut....or simple learning experience at the cost of ppl getting hurt.. when you have a population of 8 plus billion ppl on planet would a few thousand really be missed?

Is Canada still doing tneir govt sponsored euthanasia on old white ppl.

 

[DPC]

Is Canada still doing tneir govt sponsored euthanasia on old white ppl.

As a matter of fact my neighbour just went through the process a few weeks ago.
Its jarring to talk to a friend thats about to kill himself but it was what he wanted with his health failing rapidly and he wanted to be remembered on his feet and not gasping for breath in his death bed...

Ya its hard to wrap your head around it but its really not my place to judge/

 

[TommySr]

Ya its hard to wrap your head around it but its really not my place to judge/

it's hard to find fault when it's a person's choice, it almost seems like a human right
to choose a limit on one's loss of function.

 

[DPC]

it's hard to find fault when it's a person's choice, it almost seems like a human right
to choose a limit on one's loss of function.

I couldn't do it.

He was talking to me last month about having to go to a psychiatrist to be tested for mental fitness....
I said hey man easy just make a certificate in crayon that says " I am Sane " and show the doctor.
We laughed at my joke but he said no I really have to prove I am incomplete control of faculties.

Then a week went by saw him again he set a date.

Night before I sent him a text telling him I will l miss him and i will be here to help his wife if she needs anything.
He did not reply but he did read it...

Then he was gone.

Strange feelings I have about all this.
I go over to his house clean up the driveway and walk when it snows.
I leave Tupperware with a meal in it once a week, something simple she can reheat.

The wife and I went over brought flowers the day after.
We didn't know what to say, I still don't..



.

 

[D71]

Until like a lot of things next thing ya know it is Logans Run and there is a set time when you must self terminate.

Most everything flows that way. A while back Family member the insurance and doctors did not want to do a heart by pass. In particular the insurance. So…. If euthanasia had been established they would already offered it. I have been to some doctors and noticed they have end of life planning. So if they break the insurance and retirements and such old ppl will have no choice.

Ppl always seem to get these things wrong and accept them like Patriot Act. Makes me laugh.

 

[Primal1]

The market follows the money. People seem to prefer cheap shit that last a fews years that contains relatively up to date technology over expensive stuff that will last 10 or more years but will contain outdated tech.

I'd like to see modular appliances for instance designed to last for 20 years with the ability to replace or upgrade motors, power supplies, wifi or AI components so you can stay up to date if you wanted to.

I see this starting in high end audio, you can swap DACs, filters, use a tube or don't use a tube your choice in the same chassis. You should never need to buy new gear to get new features just purchase the upgrade module. This would reduce landfill waste and having to replace shit every 3 years.

So far though people prefer cheap, just look at the proliferation on web sites that don't sell anything except crap it's like the dollar store on the net, Temu comes to mind.

 

[DPC]

Until like a lot of things next thing ya know it is Logans Run and there is a set time when you must self terminate.

Most everything flows that way. A while back Family member the insurance and doctors did not want to do a heart by pass. In particular the insurance. So…. If euthanasia had been established they would already offered it. I have been to some doctors and noticed they have end of life planning. So if they break the insurance and retirements and such old ppl will have no choice.

Ppl always seem to get these things wrong and accept them like Patriot Act. Makes me laugh.

Patriot act is politics.
Someone deciding to end their own life is a very personal matter.

I've worked with guys that died on the job.
But I never experienced someone openly plan their death and talk about it.
I'm lost for words to explain to you how it feels

 

[TommySr]

fall of Innovation​

IMO the DIY communities are in there prime with the introduction/implementation of the internet.

before the internet if I wanted to be able to shovel my driveway while sitting in my home office
drinking hot coffee I would have had countless limits on the parts available to me, but with the internet
I can also shovel my brothers driveway who lives around the block while sitting in my home office
drinking hot coffee.(and I have for the last 14yrs)




also about the time dial up modems became a thing, serially programable chips became available to the DIY
communities(basic stamp in 1989 was one), before them a darkroom and hazardous chemicals were needed to
create circuits for personal use.

the DIY/ information world is opening up opportunities for innovations

I see this starting in high end audio, you can swap DACs, filters, use a tube or don't use a tube your choice in the same chassis. You should never need to buy new gear to get new features just purchase the upgrade module. This would reduce landfill waste and having to replace shit every 3 years.

with today's available resources primal1 could build his idea audio system from his home.


hell he could even see it in 3d before he downloads the design



just fun

 

[D71]

Patriot act is politics.
Someone deciding to end their own life is a very personal matter.

I've worked with guys that died on the job.
But I never experienced someone openly plan their death and talk about it.
I'm lost for words to explain to you how it feels

Not really it was pushed by politicians as laws, rules, and considered needed for safety and good of the ppl.
Do it for the public good. Snicker.

Your euthanasia laws policy are same way. Otherwise suicide is often illegal and if survive can be in world of shit.
Pushed by politicians to allow as a right of choice but they will ........ "mark my words become a standard of non-care as pushed by your broke govt."
I read article other night where they want old ppl in NATO to put up retirements to fund ukraine and buy weapons.

"""""""
The 32 NATO allies are currently in discussion to increase the defence spending benchmark from the current 2% of GDP.
Citizens of NATO member states should "accept to make sacrifices" such as cuts to their pensions, health and security systems in order to boost defence spending and ensure long-term security in Europe, the head of the military alliance said on Thursday.
"Today I call for your support, action is urgent. To protect our freedom, our prosperity and our way of life, your politicians need to listen to your voices. Tell them you accept to make sacrifices today so that we can stay safe tomorrow," Mark Rutte said during a speech in Brussels.
""""""""""""

NATO chief urges citizens to 'make sacrifices' to up defence spending

The 32 NATO allies are currently in discussion to increase the defence spending benchmark from the current 2% of GDP. #EuropeNews

www.euronews.com

Next thing will be old ppl with retirements need to kill yourself .... thanks.

We had doctor Kevorkian do similar here. They locked him up in prison for doing it for ppl.... while in prison they thought he might die and was very sick... my question why did they not help him die if that sick in prison.? He wanted out so he could live. Ppl stopped following him after that.

 

[D71]

IMO the DIY communities are in there prime with the introduction/implementation of the internet.

before the internet if I wanted to be able to shovel my driveway while sitting in my home office
drinking hot coffee I would have had countless limits on the parts available to me, but with the internet
I can also shovel my brothers driveway who lives around the block while sitting in my home office
drinking hot coffee.(and I have for the last 14yrs)


View attachment 263761 View attachment 263764View attachment 263767

also about the time dial up modems became a thing, serially programable chips became available to the DIY
communities(basic stamp in 1989 was one), before them a darkroom and hazardous chemicals were needed to
create circuits for personal use.

the DIY/ information world is opening up opportunities for innovations



with today's available resources primal1 could build his idea audio system from his home.

View attachment 263771
hell he could even see it in 3d before he downloads the design

View attachment 263772

just fun

""""with today's available resources primal1 could build his idea audio system from his home. hell he could even see it in 3d before he downloads the design """"

If we are using high tech AI why not hear it first? Proof it all the way. Then tell AI to make us happy before our govt kills us.
Shsss DPC and you still trust the Govt.

 

[DPC]

Madly off in all directions.....

You know my neighbour had to prove he was of sound mind for medically assisted suicide.
Even then its not something he chose lightly, and its not something would want to do but maybe when I'm really old and sick I might..

But In Canada its your right to ask for it, kind of like abortion its a woman's right...
In this country the gov cant tell you what you can chose to do with your life if your found mentally fit enough to make the choices.

Yes you have to trust the government you voted for or you end up with the USA...
Its a sad state of affairs but your trust in your systems are so badly eroded.

 

[TommySr]

Madly off in all directions.....

DPC, here in the USA each person is given the tools to decide their outcome(2A comes to mind)
me personally I hope I have the balls to use my rights before a stroke takes that right away.
It's top of my mind currently because I have ended up in a stroke ward of a hospital and have
seen what functions can be lost , but for the grace of god, I only lost mobility for a few months.

at least that my thinking, if you ask D71 he would most likely say I lost a shit load more then that
because I believe we have a government that we built, and for a reason.
hint: it was not for the selfish greed's of the current generation, once they look in the mirror or through
flames their greed produces they'll come around.

Madly off in all directions.....

DPC, innovations may never have come from the big 3 or even 3M, it came from the people working
there. Edison electric may have only had one patent if only thomas edison worked there.