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From: Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com>
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech
Subject: Re: repairs and obsolescence ish
Date: 9 May 2025 11:20:26 GMT
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zen cycle <funkmasterxx@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On 5/8/2025 8:51 PM, AMuzi wrote:
>> On 5/8/2025 7:03 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
>>> On 5/7/2025 12:38 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
>>>> On 7 May 2025 00:17:10 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Rather depends on the how and the why, I believe has been a push 
>>>>> back by
>>>>> consumers for example with car dashboards in that while screens and 
>>>>> so on
>>>>> are fun, they’d like some buttons still please and so on.
>>>> 
>>>> There is hope for push buttons, in the name of safety.
>>>> 
>>>> "Rejoice! Carmakers Are Embracing Physical Buttons Again
>>>> Amazingly, reaction times using screens while driving are worse than
>>>> being drunk or high - no wonder 90 percent of drivers hate using
>>>> touchscreens in cars. Finally the auto industry is coming to its
>>>> senses."
>>>> <https://www.wired.com/story/why-car-brands-are-finally- switching- 
>>>> back-to-buttons/>
>>>> "Automakers that nest key controls deep in touchscreen menus forcing
>>>> motorists to drive eyes-down rather than concentrate on the road ahead
>>>> may have their non-US safety ratings clipped next year."
>>>> 
>>>> Sorry, but you'll need a Wired Magazine subscription to read the
>>>> entire article.  If you don't want a subscription, you might find the
>>>> reader comments interesting.
>>>> 
>>>> In my never humble opinion, buttons, touch screens, haptic feedback,
>>>> voice control, gestures, sign language and AI all have their good and
>>>> bad points.  The trick is to attach numbers (fatality rate, accident
>>>> rate, cost, fashion, etc) to the various schemes and settle on the
>>>> least disgusting and most tolerable method.
>>> 
>>> I greatly prefer physical buttons, switches, etc. while driving. 
>>> Fortunately my EV mostly uses those for common functions; but there's 
>>> still a problem. Many switches are flat, low profile and all in a 
>>> dense row. Even if I did memorize that something like "Defrost" was 
>>> the third one from the left, it would be difficult to locate it by touch.
>>> 
>>> A possible solution would be switches with covers, etc. molded in 
>>> different shapes that gave a clue about their function. I'm reminded 
>>> of the increase in airplane safety (in WW2, IIRC) when the pilot's 
>>> lever for "flaps" was shaped like a wing cross section. The adjacent 
>>> lever for "landing gear" was shaped like a wheel.
>>> 
>>> What I eventually did was get a pack of ~5mm self adhesive 
>>> hemispherical rubber bumpers. I stuck those on certain buttons, the 
>>> ones I push most often, so I could find them by touch. It was a big 
>>> improvement.
>>> 
>> 
>> Agreed that different controls ought to be different in shape, style, 
>> format.  I moved this heater fan switch from one car to another over the 
>> years. It's just below the dash of my Malibu now:
>> 
>> https://oldchevytrucks.com/pub/media/catalog/product/s/k/sku-images-el- 
>> el118_blower_switch_non_fresh.jpg? 
>> width=600&height=778&store=default&image-type=imagecamera
>> 
>> And isolated simplicity!
>> 
>> My shop truck has demons in the turn signal/wiper/washer/brights 
>> switch.  Can't ever turn off the wipers,
>> 
>> So I added a simple push button on top of the dash, wired through the 
>> wiper fuse.  The fast/slow function in the stalk still works.
>> 
>> I can't imagine scrolling through the menus of a touch screen trying to 
>> clear sleet/salt/crud on the windscreen in freeway traffic.
> 
> I don't know this for a fact but I'm pretty sure windshield wiper 
> controls won't be found in a touch screen menu even on the newest cars. 
> It's invariably a stalk control.

I think even Tesla it’s on the stalk, same with indicators.
> 
> For a time in the early 1980s I drove a beat-to-shit 1974 ford Capri 
> (manufactured by ford of germany). It was a great, fun little coupe 
> except for the fact that it had extreme body rot. The linkage to this 
> thread is the windshield wiper control was activated activated by a 
> floor switch similar to the old american high-beam switch. However, the 
> washer control was on the stalk along with the high beam switch.
> 
> I drove it for about a year until it wouldn't pass inspection due to the 
> body rot. I sold it for parts to someone who wanted the engine. I drove 
> it to the guys house with a friend following me. As I turned into the 
> buyers driveway, I heard a loud thud. When I got out of the car it was 
> obvious the car was leaning heavily to the right side. We tried to pop 
> the hood, which seemed to be jammed (it wasn't before), and once it 
> released the car dropped another few inches. It turns out the right 
> front strut mount had completely rotted out and punched its way up 
> though the fender, where it was stopped by the hood until we released 
> the hood latch. The buyer chuckled because he just wanted the engine 
> which still ran great.
> 
> good times :)
> 
Don’t think I ever drove a Capri was still some around when I learned to
drive, was an era that mass market cars did tend to dissolve.

My folks had a Morris Marina for some time which my day claimed was the
most exciting car he’s ever owned due to its handling or rather lack of!

Climbing the hill to my folks which is admittedly steep averages 17% and
tops out at 25% ish the bend by the pub is quite tight and often wet, and
it often stepped out apparently as you attempted to hold speed.

That’s also the point most cyclists kiss the saddle good by as that’s the
point it goes vertical!

It’s not the worse in the area is one that hold 28% between the bends and
tops out at 35/38% at the edge of the valley, Strava name of “Mother of
god” is apt!

Roger Merriman