RE: Technology
Tuesday 19th March 2002
Technology
Ted loves technology. He's enthusiing about it this week yet somehow manages to have a bit of a whinge as well and squeeze in a reference to cars...
Discussion
Technology is all good and well, if it works, and fulfills the key role of a machine by making a particular task or function easier by automation.
Great. So why has my password for my business banking been lost THREE times by the bank. OK, so long gone are the days where there are enough bods in your local branch to deal with each and every enquiry - automation is pretty logical for many general queries - but the new systems are useless.
And why does my Sky digital keep loosing all the channel numbers from the on screen display - until it's switched off and reset - what's that about?
Technology that works is great - you know, like the PS2 - but when it goes all cock eyed, it's a waste of everyones time.
While I'm ranting, good point Ted, what sort of technology is a paper tax disc? And why didn't they start using camera's to catch tax dodgers in the first place? And uninsured drivers.
Off to pop some bubble wrap and calm down.
Great. So why has my password for my business banking been lost THREE times by the bank. OK, so long gone are the days where there are enough bods in your local branch to deal with each and every enquiry - automation is pretty logical for many general queries - but the new systems are useless.
And why does my Sky digital keep loosing all the channel numbers from the on screen display - until it's switched off and reset - what's that about?
Technology that works is great - you know, like the PS2 - but when it goes all cock eyed, it's a waste of everyones time.
While I'm ranting, good point Ted, what sort of technology is a paper tax disc? And why didn't they start using camera's to catch tax dodgers in the first place? And uninsured drivers.
Off to pop some bubble wrap and calm down.
I'm crying with laughter Ted! Good rant that!!!quote:
And why didn't they start using camera's to catch tax dodgers in the first place? And uninsured drivers.
Probably because the people that do this can't always afford to sky high costs given that they need the damn car to get to work (Robbing, mugging, pick pocketing etc) and have to pay extortionate tax on the petrol which I don't think can be avoided.. So why nick them when they won't have the money, whereas good ole muggins the law abiding person can pay £60 quid a shot to get somewhere quick enough to not get fired.
As an Aside, the tax man sent me a Rebate the other day, then sent me a letter to tell me that I don't have to pay him for the rebate, cause it is a rebate. Then sent me a tax bill for £0.00. Good use of the Govt money there I reckon.
I also received a tax bill for £0.00 and was very tempted to use the pre-paid envelope to send them back a cheque for 'Zero Pounds Only'. 
And back to the technology issue, how come in this day and age I cannot listen to the Association Football on the wireless as I cannot get decent reception on Radio Five from below Fleet services on the M3 and then along the A303 down to near Salisbury? Also mobile phone reception seems pretty poor on that stretch, is it all the military sites around there which prevent the erection (:snigger) of a decent number of radio/phone masts?
And back to the technology issue, how come in this day and age I cannot listen to the Association Football on the wireless as I cannot get decent reception on Radio Five from below Fleet services on the M3 and then along the A303 down to near Salisbury? Also mobile phone reception seems pretty poor on that stretch, is it all the military sites around there which prevent the erection (:snigger) of a decent number of radio/phone masts?
quote:
Also mobile phone reception seems pretty poor on that stretch, is it all the military sites around there which prevent the erection (:snigger) of a decent number of radio/phone masts?
Mobile phones full stop. Every now and then, even in areas which do have reception, the network has a brainfart and unless you notice this, switch your phone off and back on again, it looses the network.
quote:Blame for that may well be with the phone, not the network - it happens a lot on my Nokia 7110, so I went back to my 6110 and it never happens on that one..
Mobile phones full stop. Every now and then, even in areas which do have reception, the network has a brainfart and unless you notice this, switch your phone off and back on again, it looses the network.
7110s are probably the worst phone Nokia have made..
Tube passes. Why the 
do I have to fill out a form every 3 months. That's unless i'm stupid enough to buy from a different tube stop from the one I originally bought from. In which case I have to fill out another. It is bloody ridiculous. A localised paper based storage system that expires every 3 months. It doesn't help the majority of tube staff can't even read and spend a good 20mins looking for my form ( 'e comes after d and before f....').
Heaven help you if you pay by card. Because then they have to write down all your details.
I don't know whether to
or 
do I have to fill out a form every 3 months. That's unless i'm stupid enough to buy from a different tube stop from the one I originally bought from. In which case I have to fill out another. It is bloody ridiculous. A localised paper based storage system that expires every 3 months. It doesn't help the majority of tube staff can't even read and spend a good 20mins looking for my form ( 'e comes after d and before f....'). Heaven help you if you pay by card. Because then they have to write down all your details.
I don't know whether to
or Never thought of that, I live just north od Salisbury plain and thought it was just because we lived in a valley....maybe not.
Ted, good rant but it's the idea that technology can replace people completely that gets up my nose - when I ring any company these days I have to go through a dozen menus just to speak to a machine which tells me my call will be dealt with when Sharon gets back from doing her nails. They could have spent the £2 million they spent on the fancy computerised phone system on 5 more Sharons so they could do their nails in turn. Specially when I just want to tell them their computers 'estimated' my electricity bill at 3 times the amount we actually used.....
Ted, good rant but it's the idea that technology can replace people completely that gets up my nose - when I ring any company these days I have to go through a dozen menus just to speak to a machine which tells me my call will be dealt with when Sharon gets back from doing her nails. They could have spent the £2 million they spent on the fancy computerised phone system on 5 more Sharons so they could do their nails in turn. Specially when I just want to tell them their computers 'estimated' my electricity bill at 3 times the amount we actually used.....
quote:
Satellite navigation will soon be standard fitment in our cars.
If this ever happen, it will be the thin end of the wedge.
I personally despise all these squealing-potent devices such as mobile phones and satellites whichever you want it or not contribute to increase the status of big brother in our world.
I can very well live without it; the question is about not falling in the trap of developping new needs.
>> Edited by thom on Friday 15th March 15:49
The best response to a technological marvel was given by Bond (Connery) to Q in Goldfinger when being shown the "homing device tracker" installed in the Aston-Martin, towit:
"Ingenious and useful too. Allows a man to stop off for a quick one en route..."
Classic
ErnestM
>> Edited by ErnestM on Friday 15th March 17:00
"Ingenious and useful too. Allows a man to stop off for a quick one en route..."
Classic
ErnestM
>> Edited by ErnestM on Friday 15th March 17:00
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