Very true...it seems like the cost of production will always seem to outweigh designing a higher quality product...I was thinking about that today in one of my classes...one of the variables that can be controlled is the safety factor...drop the safety standards, and the cost of production goes down...it seems like there's little incentive to design for much more durability/quality than the minimum required
Modern industry is geared to keep down costs - profits are one reason but we now have the 'green' excuse. It could be argued that making a bridge out of 20% fewer materials is good for the environment and saves carbon credits or whatever those things are! Nice to see you again.
@alanstarkie2001 Good to hear from you too Alan. I don't think I was very clear in the video. The point I am making is that that same bridge is designed to last 50 years. The bridge will need to be replaced or rebuilt and the contractors usually have this scheduled. Most of them will also try to win the maintenance contract to ensure an income stream during this time. Building materials like steel, asphalt and concrete are mixed to a certain standard to last that long but could last longer.
@gadzometer short-termism. Sorry about this 'isms'. Those guys will be dead and buried long before rebuilding is even thought about. I like the idea of over engineering things - for example Victorian structures and 1970s Nikon cameras. Over engineering often happened when there was some uncertainty about durability so they just went 'over the top' in the application. These days complex modeling allows them to shave off to a safe minimum and save dollars (this years budget) ~ short termism.
@alanstarkie2001 Well put. Technologies tend to change rapidly so a longer term bridge may not be the optimal design for 50 years in the future. BTW have you seen the new zeitgeist movie yet? Release a couple of days ago.
I also have another concern: I hope the criticisms of our current economic system doesn't cause people who advocate an RBE to not contribute to our current way of doing things. What I mean is, when I talk to some ZM folks, some say there's no point in engaging in any politics, in working in conservation, bothering with patchwork social programs...that bothers me cos I think apathy is not the way to go....
It's almost 5AM in Oz, are you an insomniac too? ;)
@Neanderthalcouzin My kids woke me up and went back to sleep but I couldn't. :)
Yeah the one thing that I haven't heard much about it the political/administration/law aspects. I tried to address that in my last video but it still needs a lot of work.
Apple design their iPod products with non-removable battery packs, knowing full well that Lithium-Ion technology only works effectively for a limited number of charges. Why? It's exactly as you said. This is why I will never buy Apple.
@darrylsloan I also use a product in my systems (in my company) that has not removable battery packs for this same reason. Lasts 5-10 years and then need to buy a new one.
@darrylsloan Darryl, if you have any iPods that need new batteries send them to me! I know how to change them. Li-Ion batteries are superior to NiCad, take up less space thus you can make a smaller more economical (greener) product. I like Apple because their products are designed to last - and they generally do, even though I have had the odd run-in with Apple! I blame consumerism - folks want new things all the time - why over engineer? I like fixing things - that's why I'm a service engineer!
Wow, that's crazy.... and ridiculous, thanks it's good to know about stuff like that from people actually trained in these things. What do you think of the new film so far?
@Neanderthalcouzin I really liked it. I still worry about the details of implementation. I prefer evolution to revolution and I fear that there may be some bad times ahead.
Because of the previous Zeitgeist movies and the links to 9/11 and other conspiracy theories (whether they were real conspiracies or not), I fear that the movie will not be taken up by most people on the street and the opponents will be able to discredit it via association.
@gadzometer You completely summed up what i think as well: I'm liking it theoretically and logically, but not seeing the way it could really be done, I prefer evolution to revolution (I think it's really got to be done that way), and finally, I'm also concerned about the conspiracy stuff of the first film, which is why I kind of hoped he wouldn't change the name for this one.
Very true...it seems like the cost of production will always seem to outweigh designing a higher quality product...I was thinking about that today in one of my classes...one of the variables that can be controlled is the safety factor...drop the safety standards, and the cost of production goes down...it seems like there's little incentive to design for much more durability/quality than the minimum required
ericfsugolf77 1 year ago
I bless my 25 year old appliances everyday :) No Kidding!
CosmicDramaQueen 1 year ago
@CosmicDramaQueen What? You don't miss the flashing LED's and digital clock in the side of them? :P
gadzometer 1 year ago
Modern industry is geared to keep down costs - profits are one reason but we now have the 'green' excuse. It could be argued that making a bridge out of 20% fewer materials is good for the environment and saves carbon credits or whatever those things are! Nice to see you again.
alanstarkie2001 1 year ago
@alanstarkie2001 Good to hear from you too Alan. I don't think I was very clear in the video. The point I am making is that that same bridge is designed to last 50 years. The bridge will need to be replaced or rebuilt and the contractors usually have this scheduled. Most of them will also try to win the maintenance contract to ensure an income stream during this time. Building materials like steel, asphalt and concrete are mixed to a certain standard to last that long but could last longer.
gadzometer 1 year ago
@gadzometer short-termism. Sorry about this 'isms'. Those guys will be dead and buried long before rebuilding is even thought about. I like the idea of over engineering things - for example Victorian structures and 1970s Nikon cameras. Over engineering often happened when there was some uncertainty about durability so they just went 'over the top' in the application. These days complex modeling allows them to shave off to a safe minimum and save dollars (this years budget) ~ short termism.
alanstarkie2001 1 year ago
@alanstarkie2001 Well put. Technologies tend to change rapidly so a longer term bridge may not be the optimal design for 50 years in the future. BTW have you seen the new zeitgeist movie yet? Release a couple of days ago.
gadzometer 1 year ago
I also have another concern: I hope the criticisms of our current economic system doesn't cause people who advocate an RBE to not contribute to our current way of doing things. What I mean is, when I talk to some ZM folks, some say there's no point in engaging in any politics, in working in conservation, bothering with patchwork social programs...that bothers me cos I think apathy is not the way to go....
It's almost 5AM in Oz, are you an insomniac too? ;)
Neanderthalcouzin 1 year ago
@Neanderthalcouzin My kids woke me up and went back to sleep but I couldn't. :)
Yeah the one thing that I haven't heard much about it the political/administration/law aspects. I tried to address that in my last video but it still needs a lot of work.
gadzometer 1 year ago
Apple design their iPod products with non-removable battery packs, knowing full well that Lithium-Ion technology only works effectively for a limited number of charges. Why? It's exactly as you said. This is why I will never buy Apple.
darrylsloan 1 year ago
@darrylsloan I also use a product in my systems (in my company) that has not removable battery packs for this same reason. Lasts 5-10 years and then need to buy a new one.
gadzometer 1 year ago
@darrylsloan Darryl, if you have any iPods that need new batteries send them to me! I know how to change them. Li-Ion batteries are superior to NiCad, take up less space thus you can make a smaller more economical (greener) product. I like Apple because their products are designed to last - and they generally do, even though I have had the odd run-in with Apple! I blame consumerism - folks want new things all the time - why over engineer? I like fixing things - that's why I'm a service engineer!
alanstarkie2001 1 year ago
@alanstarkie2001 Cheers, Alan. I don't have one, but I definitely appreciate the offer.
darrylsloan 1 year ago
Wow, that's crazy.... and ridiculous, thanks it's good to know about stuff like that from people actually trained in these things. What do you think of the new film so far?
Neanderthalcouzin 1 year ago
@Neanderthalcouzin I really liked it. I still worry about the details of implementation. I prefer evolution to revolution and I fear that there may be some bad times ahead.
Because of the previous Zeitgeist movies and the links to 9/11 and other conspiracy theories (whether they were real conspiracies or not), I fear that the movie will not be taken up by most people on the street and the opponents will be able to discredit it via association.
gadzometer 1 year ago
@gadzometer You completely summed up what i think as well: I'm liking it theoretically and logically, but not seeing the way it could really be done, I prefer evolution to revolution (I think it's really got to be done that way), and finally, I'm also concerned about the conspiracy stuff of the first film, which is why I kind of hoped he wouldn't change the name for this one.
Neanderthalcouzin 1 year ago