Path: news.eternal-september.org!eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail
From: AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org>
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech
Subject: Re: repairs and obsolescence ish
Date: Fri, 9 May 2025 08:58:15 -0500
Organization: Yellow Jersey, Ltd.
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On 5/8/2025 9:16 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> On Thu, 8 May 2025 20:03:39 -0400, Frank Krygowski
> <frkrygow@gXXmail.com> 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.
> 
> Nice idea, but there's a problem.  Ralph Nader was able to identify
> numerous safety hazards in the automobiles made in the late 1960's.
> Among them is getting impaled or punctured by projecting knobs and
> switches.  Sorry, but flat and low profile are generally safer than
> switches and controls with projecting levers.
> 
>> 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.
> 
> Good idea, but why reinvent the wheel?  You could have used
> standardized Braille stickers instead.  You'll also find Braille
> stickers on ATM machines, elevators, roadside phones, some toys, etc.
> 
> Also, look into ELIA Frames, a Braille alternative:
> <https://theblindguide.com/braille-alternative-is-elia-frames/>
> 
> "ELIA Frames Font Explanation Video"
> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3If0ZWu7jHM>
> "We have gone to great lengths testing and refining ELIA Frames to
> maximize its learnability. Over 200,000 test subject responses were
> collected and analyzed. The key design principle that was applied, in
> order to leverage a person’s finger sensitivity, was to make each
> character’s design simple but unique, and to space each letter’s
> features far apart enough that they can be easily recognized."
> 

Small clarification on the dates regarding Mr Nader.

His strongest criticisms were for Volkswagen and Corvair 
rear swing axles. Both manufacturers had already planned 
their improved IRS models; Corvairs were on the road in USA 
from September 1964, before Mr Nader published in January 
1965. (Volkswagen didn't change over until autumn 1967 for 
the 1968 model year)

-- 
Andrew Muzi
am@yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971