[NA] Over engineered "improvements"

[Larry in TN]

The key-cards work best if you hold them still. Touch the reader and hold it still. When they are moving around, as many people do, the reader's don't pick them up well. Same works for the automatic faucets in the airport restrooms. Hold your hands still in front of the sensor.

The elevators that assign your car based on your destination floor significantly increase the capacity of the elevator system during peak times. In slower times, there's little, if any, benefit.

 

[Larry in TN]

I recently had a rental car that did not have a physical knob for the AC fan speed, it was embedded in the touch screen controls.

Those systems as designed to be used in Auto mode. The car's owner sets their preferences then rarely needs to adjust anything. They likely remember the settings for multiple drivers using either their phone or key to identify the driver.

It's very convenient for those who own the car. Doesn't work well for a renter.

 

[Racerx]

Tesla RFID (radio frequency id) cards are not motion activated like airport restrooms.... although I did get one of COVID vaccines so maybe they are RFID

 

[MauleSkinner]

It's just the electronic system is so cumbersome:
1) Go to general elevator bank, scan key card
2) Press floor you want to go to on touch screen
3) Get assigned an elevator
4) Wait in elevator as more people scan until whatever software tells it you have sufficient people to go (or have waited long enough)

To me this process seems optimized to be as inefficient as possible. Most sizeable office buildings I've been to just have elevator banks that serve different floors. That already chops down on the amount of wait time you're going to have in the elevator. I just don't see how every single person going through a workflow of scanning/selecting/being assigned an elevator saves any time at all.

What happens if someone gets ****ed off, and decides to take the stairs after they’ve scanned in?

 

[Racerx]

Those systems as designed to be used in Auto mode. The car's owner sets their preferences then rarely needs to adjust anything. They likely remember the settings for multiple drivers using either their phone or key to identify the driver.

It's very convenient for those who own the car. Doesn't work well for a renter.

Except when it's -20 and you want it to be 90 to thaw out your juevos. Then gradually bring it to 70 easily at my discretion.

 

[MauleSkinner]

Same works for the automatic faucets in the airport restrooms. Hold your hands still in front of the sensor.

that’s what the instructions, clearly posted in every restroom, say.

At least the old hand driers said to push the butt and rub your hands under your arms.

 

[Racerx]

I've also learned in this thread we eat a **** ton of fast food and mobile apps aren't helping. Maybe rfk Jr will ban mobile apps

 

[ArrowFlyer86]

What happens if someone gets ****ed off, and decides to take the stairs after they’ve scanned in?

It detects an improper weight and the system breaks down, the elevator begins an uncontrolled free fall while the emergency brakes are disengaged. Disaster ensues.

 

[Larry in TN]

Except when it's -20 and you want it to be 90 to thaw out your juevos. Then gradually bring it to 70 easily at my discretion.

I've never needed to do that. When the outside temperature is extreme, I turn on the climate control several minutes before heading outside to my car. It's nice and warm, or cool, when I get there.

Again, not very helpful for renters.

 

[DaleB]

The problem is that the conventional elevator system where each elevator goes up and down stopping at any floors that have calls doesn't work above a certain number of floors. So there are a number of solutions:

1. More elevators, some of which express up to a higher floor before they start making stops.
2. The old WTC sky lobbies, where you first go to the floor 40 or 80 by express and then switch to a conventional elevator going to the intervening floors (essentially, they stack up the local evelators in the same horizontal space.
3. The ones you are experiencing where software determines the optimal routing for all the calls in progress. Sort of a hybrid of the #1 but not statically allocated as to which are express and which are local

All of which is understandable, but it baffles me why anyone would put the touchscreen traffic management system in a building with 6-8 floors, and almost as many elevators.

I was recently riding in a BMW and was shown how hand motions are used to turn up and down the radio volume, select the next song, start & stop the music, etc. The driver said it was an annoyance when they had a hand talker in the vehicle with them. I'm a bit old school in that I still like buttons and knobs. I will admit that Apple Car play can work well for hands free communications ...

I had a 5 series for a couple years. I turned that stuff off pretty quickly; I'd point out something to my wife and the car would do something stupid.

 

[Racerx]

I've never needed to do that. When the outside temperature is extreme, I turn on the climate control several minutes before heading outside to my car. It's nice and warm, or cool, when I get there.

Again, not very helpful for renters.

I usually do that too. But often forget. And 10 minutes isn't enough time to go from -20 to comfortable. I would much prefer it being easier to adjust.

 

[midwestpa24]

I've never needed to do that. When the outside temperature is extreme, I turn on the climate control several minutes before heading outside to my car. It's nice and warm, or cool, when I get there.

Again, not very helpful for renters.

I've found it is getting more difficult with rentals in general. 20 years ago, you could go from a Ford, to a Dodge, to a Toyota, and for the most part things were laid out pretty commonly. Today you get in a new car, and you have to spend 15 minutes just looking for the gear shift, where's the start button, are the headlights on, why did it the engine just turn off? I hear some EVs have even gone to a single pedal (I haven't run into that one personally).

I am really starting to sound like an old fart...GET OFF MY LAWN!

 

[flyingron]

. Most sizeable office buildings I've been to just have elevator banks that serve different floors. That already chops down on the amount of wait time you're going to have in the elevator. I just don't see how every single person going through a workflow of scanning/selecting/being assigned an elevator saves any time at all.

As I said, this takes more elevators. Not only are elevators expensive, but they chew up a lot of the building square footage. It was one of the options I listed in my post you didn't read.

 

[Larry in TN]

All of which is understandable, but it baffles me why anyone would put the touchscreen traffic management system in a building with 6-8 floors, and almost as many elevators.

Every location needs the proper tech for the application. There isn't any one size fits all.

The six-floor tower where several of my doctors are has three elevators and long waits. You watch as each car goes up/down stopping at the same floors as the other cars. By the time it makes it to the lobby, there's more people waiting then will fit in it. That bank of three elevators would benefit from such a system.

I would much prefer it being easier to adjust.

Since most rentals are rather new, I'd guess there are very few rentals available with conventional controls. All but the cheapest new cars are adding automated systems.

 

[Zeldman]

My first flying job was in Manteo, NC. We had to go through the gate to get to where the airplanes hang out. To unlock the gate required having a card key.

One time I forgot the card, so on a whim I whipped out my drivers license and placed it on the card reader.

The gate opened...

Oh, this was also pre-9/11

 

[ArrowFlyer86]

As I said, this takes more elevators. Not only are elevators expensive, but they chew up a lot of the building square footage. It was one of the options I listed in my post you didn't read.

I did read...

 

[Racerx]

Every location needs the proper tech for the application. There isn't any one size fits all.

The six-floor tower where several of my doctors are has three elevators and long waits. You watch as each car goes up/down stopping at the same floors as the other cars. By the time it makes it to the lobby, there's more people waiting then will fit in it. That bank of three elevators would benefit from such a system.


Since most rentals are rather new, I'd guess there are very few rentals available with conventional controls. All but the cheapest new cars are adding automated systems.

Personal vehicle. 2024 GMC Sierra. Separate physical climate controls below nav screen.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

I cannot disagree with this strongly enough.

So, you think apps should be a giant pain in the ass and insecure?

And yeah, apps... Good god. Me and my brother get into arguments about this because he installs the app for everything. I'm like... I have a browser that was specifically designed to load up any webpage, and that webpage can have whatever content they want to push.

I don't mind an app if it does something useful. And I usually hit "no" when I first launch it and it asks me if I want notifications.

What drives me nuts is the "apps" that are nothing more than a web browser that's stuck to one site. Pointless.

And while I'm a pretty tech savvy guy, I do not have my credit card data preloaded into my phone. It's already bad enough if I lose my phone and have to replace it. I don't want losing my phone to also mean whoever finds it can also gain access to all my payment methods and buy whatever they want by scanning a picture.

Face ID does not work with a picture. It's using 3D information.

Same works for the automatic faucets in the airport restrooms.

Now there's one that drives me batty: Bathroom automation. Sinks that constantly turn off while you're still trying to rinse, soap dispensers that give you a baby-sized squirt of diluted soap, and towel dispensers that give you a half of a sheet per minute. I have big hands, and pretty much none of these work well for me. And all to save half a penny on water or supplies?

Of course, the plumbing is all designed such that the hot water never actually makes it to the tap too.

Those systems as designed to be used in Auto mode. The car's owner sets their preferences then rarely needs to adjust anything. They likely remember the settings for multiple drivers using either their phone or key to identify the driver.

The HVAC in my Tesla is the only "Auto" one that I've ever used that actually keeps me comfortable without changing the setting. And I'll still sometimes kick the seat off of Auto, though the air temp is always good.

Except when it's -20 and you want it to be 90 to thaw out your juevos. Then gradually bring it to 70 easily at my discretion.

"My balls are cold" is a valid voice command in the Tesla.

I hear some EVs have even gone to a single pedal (I haven't run into that one personally).

Single pedal driving (for most conditions), yes. Single pedal in the car? No. I don't think that's even legal.

I have a brake pedal, but I rarely use it.

 

[DaleB]

Single pedal driving (for most conditions), yes. Single pedal in the car? No. I don't think that's even legal.

I have a brake pedal, but I rarely use it.

I still think a joystick would be better. My pickup has electric steering, throttle by wire, and brakes that don't really need me to press the brake pedal (it's got radar cruise control too). So a simple forward/coast/brake/reverse and left/right joystick would be trivially simple to implement, and probably take all of five minutes to get a feel for.

But that's just me.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

I still think a joystick would be better. My pickup has electric steering, throttle by wire, and brakes that don't really need me to press the brake pedal (it's got radar cruise control too). So a simple forward/coast/brake/reverse and left/right joystick would be trivially simple to implement, and probably take all of five minutes to get a feel for.

But that's just me.

It's bad enough that the wipers, lights, and other items are different car to car. But changing the actual driving controls? No way. In a panic situation, you're going to revert to what you know, you're not going to be able to think about "what do I do with this silly joystick".

An example of this is the few Teslas that have accelerated into fixed objects - I think the drivers have noticed they're about to hit something, and their first instinct is to stomp on the brake... But that has been trained out of them by single-pedal driving, so they just stomp and accelerate into the object.

 

[ArrowFlyer86]

Face ID does not work with a picture. It's using 3D information.

I was referring to the tap-to-pay and the scanning QR code and then paying with a digital wallet on your phone.

I'm sure some people have it and like it. I don't want it. I'm content to keep my $ and my contact device separate. Lose either one and it's bad enough, lose both and it's a disaster.

 

[Gilbert Buettner]

I think the Japanese hired the Germans to design this portion of the bike.

Don't blame the Germans. They designed my BMW motorcycle, and it has just one key for the fuel cap and only one fuel cap.

 

[Racerx]

An example of this is the few Teslas that have accelerated into fixed objects - I think the drivers have noticed they're about to hit something, and their first instinct is to stomp on the brake... But that has been trained out of them by single-pedal driving, so they just stomp and accelerate into the object.

That's Darwinism trying to make a comeback.

 

[ArrowFlyer86]

But changing the actual driving controls? No way. In a panic situation, you're going to revert to what you know, you're not going to be able to think about "what do I do with this silly joystick".

IDK...
Mr Garrison from South Park had a pretty interesting concept car with a unique, proprietary way to control the vehicle. Might wanna give that a watch.

 

[Matthew]

About a year ago I was giving someone a ride to a fancy hotel with it's own underground parking garage. I needed to drop that person off and stay for a few hours for an event, so I parked out front and asked at the desk if I could use their garage for no charge. They gave me a barcode/mag-stripe card to use. They said,"Here, this is good for 48 hrs to get in and out. The card opens the gates at the entrance and at the exit, and doesn't require a payment to get out."

"Oh, and if you have any trouble with it, just push the 'Help" button, that opens the gates automatically."

 

[Dana]

My 2023 Jeep, like all new cars, has too much electronics, but it still has knobs for lights, radio volume and fan speed, single buttons for hotter/colder and climate control mode, and... hand cranked windows!

Of course there's a recall on the electronic instrument cluster which can apparently go blank without warning...

 

[Gilbert Buettner]

At the gate to the secure area at the Eagle River, Wisconsin airport there is a sign that says "To open gate, press (and then it gives the code)."

 

[2-Bit Speed]

So, you think apps should be a giant pain in the ass and insecure?

Sure. Let's go with that.

 

[Salty]

At the gate to the secure area at the Eagle River, Wisconsin airport there is a sign that says "To open gate, press (and then it gives the code)."

An airport I’ve visited has the typical “code is ctaf frequency” sign, and next to that is a sign that lists the AWOS and CTAF frequencies

 

[flyingcheesehead]

I was referring to the tap-to-pay and the scanning QR code and then paying with a digital wallet on your phone.

...But doesn't getting to the digital wallet require Face ID/Touch ID? (It does on the iStuff.)

I'm sure some people have it and like it. I don't want it. I'm content to keep my $ and my contact device separate. Lose either one and it's bad enough, lose both and it's a disaster.

I have both. My phone has saved my ass more than once when I forgot my wallet. I wouldn't want to have only one or the other.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

Sure. Let's go with that.

Well, I said that I thought companies should get with the program and make their apps easy and able to use modern technology.

You said you couldn't disagree more, with zero additional detail. I'm trying to understand what you disagree with and why so that there is a possibility for conversation and understanding.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

"Oh, and if you have any trouble with it, just push the 'Help" button, that opens the gates automatically."

At the gate to the secure area at the Eagle River, Wisconsin airport there is a sign that says "To open gate, press (and then it gives the code)."

An airport I’ve visited has the typical “code is ctaf frequency” sign, and next to that is a sign that lists the AWOS and CTAF frequencies

Okay @Pilots Of America Management, I think we need a facepalm reaction...

 

[ArrowFlyer86]

...But doesn't getting to the digital wallet require Face ID/Touch ID? (It does on the iStuff.)

I have both. My phone has saved my ass more than once when I forgot my wallet. I wouldn't want to have only one or the other.

Check out the robberies/muggings in Chicago, like the one that happened to my buddy. The thieves are smart (smart enough, I should say). They have you unlock your phone as the first step! They know that's the key to getting everything.

 

[Racerx]

Well, I said that I thought companies should get with the program and make their apps easy and able to use modern technology.

You said you couldn't disagree more, with zero additional detail. I'm trying to understand what you disagree with and why so that there is a possibility for conversation and understanding.

I disagreed with the original comment because it sounded like if I wasnt using apple pay and getting on board with the tech bros, I was somehow making it harder on myself to wave a piece of plastic vs waving a screen. I don't see how it's harder to pay with a credit card or cash than apple pay. To use apple pay I'd first need an apple product. Then I'd have to set it up. I'm good with not setting it up.

I will agree it is in a company's best interest to accept all forms of reasonable payment. Hell, I'd take gold if I had a scale.

But if that's the ONLY way to pay... then youre not making it easier on ALL of your customers. Businesses should realize there's a good amount of people that don't care for having everything attached to their phone.

I'm good not being infinitely reliant on my phone. I'm on it enough.

 

[SkyChaser]

Reasons I don't want everything app-based and why I don't have any way to extract money from me on my phone:

1. My phone sucks.
2. My phone sucks.
3. My phone sucks.
4. My phone sucks.
5. My phone sucks.

Seriously, though, app-based everything is not always the easiest, simplest way to do things. I have forgotten my phone more often than I have forgotten my wallet. My phone has crashed/run out of battery/malfunctioned way more often than I have forgotten my physical credit card or cash. My phone and my credit card are subject to the same chances of being stolen from my pocket but the phone is also subject to the additional securoty risks that come with extra accounts and apps and extra transfers of information.

Perhaps even more horrifying - sometimes I even leave my phone at home on purpose when going out to eat with someone or similar. It is incredibly freeing not being addicted to your phone and/or not needing to carry it absolutely everywhere.

 

[DaleB]

Okay @Pilots Of America Management, I think we need a facepalm reaction...

It would get worn out in a week.

 

[jbarrass]

For me, it depends on the implementation.

I love the app on my CyberTruck.

I hate with every bone in my body the Audi App on my wife's Q7 (even after having to pay for it )

Food apps are sometimes OK, sometimes not. Order ahead is a welcome feature.

 

[Racerx]

sometimes I even leave my phone at home on purpose

Blasphemy!

But seriously, one of the more annoying things is to sit down for dinner and drinks and have someone immediately whip out their phone...if they weren't on it already while walking to the table.

I'm way too insecure to think that that's normal and immediately think I am that boring.

 

[MauleSkinner]

Blasphemy!

But seriously, one of the more annoying things is to sit down for dinner and drinks and have someone immediately whip out their phone...if they weren't on it already while walking to the table.

I'm way too insecure to think that that's normal and immediately think I am that boring.

Remember the good old days when we stood in a phone booth with our mouth covered so people couldn’t hear our conversations OR read our lips?

 

[Racerx]

Remember the good old days when we stood in a phone booth with our mouth covered so people couldn’t hear our conversations OR read our lips?

I remember seeing movies of people in phone booths...