22 Mar 2010, 5:20 pm
Being a person who appreciates technology, but is inherently suspicious of it, I am warmed to the core by the presence of a switch or button.
A switch or button signifies a basic and common function. It allows the user to turn something on or off. There is no grey area in the meaning of a switch. It is solid, quantifiable and reliable. It does not require a PhD to use it, and it may be mechanical in its application, but is simple in its method.
We have a large flat screen LCD TV. It has a remote control the size of a dinner plate that lights up with the press of a button so you can see what you are doing in the dark. Especially good when anticipating the start of a movie, or having to pause to use the bathroom. And one must have a dark room in the viewing experience. It looks like something I would find in the Starship Enterprise( I am not implying that it exists on the Starship Enterprise, I am implying that it reminds me of something I may find on there 
) .
I am fascinated by this remote and what a remote function implies. It means that I do not have to move towards the appliance to use it, I can control everything from the palm of my hand and that there is this mechanism that relies on the information passed from a plastic, dinner plate sized light saber to the TV to perform its function.
Yet, the tangible, reliable and aesthetic switch wins my heart. It is attached to the TV. It is somehow closer to the TV in ways that the remote control can only dream of. The mechanism of the switch seems to me to be the path of least resistance. I have this irrational idea that the information coming from the remote can somehow be corrupted, that it is an entity all on its own, it has no allegiance to the TV. It is independent of its master.
So, you ask, what are the ravings of this mad woman? I shall tell you. It is about simplicity. It is about things that work even if they are not particularly advanced or pretty or awesome. That even with the wonderment and occasional ease of technology, we should not forget our roots. That there is immense beauty in the simplicity of things. That a super nova looks unbelievably amazing through a telescope orbiting our Earth, but there is nothing like the use of our eyes to view the night sky, and knowing that we are made of the stars.
Mics
22 Mar 2010, 5:58 pm
A switch or button signifies a basic and common function. It allows the user to turn something on or off. There is no grey area in the meaning of a switch. It is solid, quantifiable and reliable. It does not require a PhD to use it, and it may be mechanical in its application, but is simple in its method.
We have a large flat screen LCD TV. It has a remote control the size of a dinner plate that lights up with the press of a button so you can see what you are doing in the dark. Especially good when anticipating the start of a movie, or having to pause to use the bathroom. And one must have a dark room in the viewing experience. It looks like something I would find in the Starship Enterprise( I am not implying that it exists on the Starship Enterprise, I am implying that it reminds me of something I may find on there
) .I am fascinated by this remote and what a remote function implies. It means that I do not have to move towards the appliance to use it, I can control everything from the palm of my hand and that there is this mechanism that relies on the information passed from a plastic, dinner plate sized light saber to the TV to perform its function.
Yet, the tangible, reliable and aesthetic switch wins my heart. It is attached to the TV. It is somehow closer to the TV in ways that the remote control can only dream of. The mechanism of the switch seems to me to be the path of least resistance. I have this irrational idea that the information coming from the remote can somehow be corrupted, that it is an entity all on its own, it has no allegiance to the TV. It is independent of its master.
So, you ask, what are the ravings of this mad woman? I shall tell you. It is about simplicity. It is about things that work even if they are not particularly advanced or pretty or awesome. That even with the wonderment and occasional ease of technology, we should not forget our roots. That there is immense beauty in the simplicity of things. That a super nova looks unbelievably amazing through a telescope orbiting our Earth, but there is nothing like the use of our eyes to view the night sky, and knowing that we are made of the stars.
Mics
Was "The mechanism of the switch seems to me to be the path of least resistance" intended? Or did it just turn out that way?
Yes, nothing is quite as beautiful as the natural world. No matter how complex and well designed technology is. But there is a kind of beauty in technology, most visible when you look at something that you have made with pride.
22 Mar 2010, 6:09 pm
22 Mar 2010, 6:10 pm
A switch or button signifies a basic and common function. It allows the user to turn something on or off. There is no grey area in the meaning of a switch. It is solid, quantifiable and reliable. It does not require a PhD to use it, and it may be mechanical in its application, but is simple in its method.
We have a large flat screen LCD TV. It has a remote control the size of a dinner plate that lights up with the press of a button so you can see what you are doing in the dark. Especially good when anticipating the start of a movie, or having to pause to use the bathroom. And one must have a dark room in the viewing experience. It looks like something I would find in the Starship Enterprise( I am not implying that it exists on the Starship Enterprise, I am implying that it reminds me of something I may find on there
) .I am fascinated by this remote and what a remote function implies. It means that I do not have to move towards the appliance to use it, I can control everything from the palm of my hand and that there is this mechanism that relies on the information passed from a plastic, dinner plate sized light saber to the TV to perform its function.
Yet, the tangible, reliable and aesthetic switch wins my heart. It is attached to the TV. It is somehow closer to the TV in ways that the remote control can only dream of. The mechanism of the switch seems to me to be the path of least resistance. I have this irrational idea that the information coming from the remote can somehow be corrupted, that it is an entity all on its own, it has no allegiance to the TV. It is independent of its master.
So, you ask, what are the ravings of this mad woman? I shall tell you. It is about simplicity. It is about things that work even if they are not particularly advanced or pretty or awesome. That even with the wonderment and occasional ease of technology, we should not forget our roots. That there is immense beauty in the simplicity of things. That a super nova looks unbelievably amazing through a telescope orbiting our Earth, but there is nothing like the use of our eyes to view the night sky, and knowing that we are made of the stars.
Mics
Was "The mechanism of the switch seems to me to be the path of least resistance" intended? Or did it just turn out that way?
Yes, nothing is quite as beautiful as the natural world. No matter how complex and well designed technology is. But there is a kind of beauty in technology, most visible when you look at something that you have made with pride.
Avarice, I get you! Took me a minute to understand what you meant by "Was "The mechanism of the switch seems to me to be the path of least resistance" intended? Or did it just turn out that way?" lol.......yep, my brain is working.
So no. I did not make the connection between the comment and an actual reference to electrical conductivity.......I am thrilled that you pointed it out or I may never have seen the double meaning of my words. LOVE IT! providing I understood you correctly.......
And yes, I do agree with what you said ".......most visible when you look at something that you have made with pride."
I get that. I am most envious of people who can "make" technology. I can design the most rudimentary of mechanisms (like something to improve the housing unit of the various valves of my hot water system, but that is about it. I am more of a star gazer
Thank you for your wonderful reply.
Mics
22 Mar 2010, 6:12 pm
22 Mar 2010, 6:39 pm
CowboyFromHell
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22 Mar 2010, 8:01 pm
22 Mar 2010, 9:50 pm
CockneyRebel
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22 Mar 2010, 11:21 pm
iamnotaparakeet
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23 Mar 2010, 1:07 am
23 Mar 2010, 5:07 am
So no. I did not make the connection between the comment and an actual reference to electrical conductivity.......I am thrilled that you pointed it out or I may never have seen the double meaning of my words. LOVE IT! providing I understood you correctly.......
And yes, I do agree with what you said ".......most visible when you look at something that you have made with pride."
I get that. I am most envious of people who can "make" technology. I can design the most rudimentary of mechanisms (like something to improve the housing unit of the various valves of my hot water system, but that is about it. I am more of a star gazer
Thank you for your wonderful reply.
Mics
Thank YOU for YOUR wonderful reply.
Most of what I say is strange and never really appreciated for anything in particular.
I noticed the resistance part of what you said because I'm an electronics enthusiast and tend to notice stuff like that. You should try it, if you want to make technology, soldering irons are laughably cheap, I got mine for $12. It's a fun hobby.
Far, far more complex. That's why we make circuits and not animals. And it's nice to read about a resistor and know that "it works this way and always will, provided it was manufactured correctly" rather than read about a cell and think of all the mutations that could happen, not to mention that cells are more complex anyway.
If I'm not making sense it's probably my illness, I've had 2 colds in three weeks and am quite delirious...
ValMikeSmith
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23 Mar 2010, 6:29 am
23 Mar 2010, 6:33 am
iamnotaparakeet
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Joined: 31 Jul 2007
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23 Mar 2010, 6:51 am
23 Mar 2010, 9:25 am
23 Mar 2010, 10:26 am
Among conservative Jews, there's a whole culture of not working on the Sabbath. There's some special mechanism that allows them to turn a switch on or off without 'work'. Thus proving there's a way to complicate anything....
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