Low-tech Magazine underscores the potential of past technologies

Post by pjmlp » Tue, Mar 19, 2024, 1:32 PM UTC

k99x55 wrote: post #67

The most underrated technology is the bicycle. It the least discriminatory mode of transport: it caters to all ages, almost-all abilities (1). It give you free exercise, its good for the environment, for the community, for the local economy (small commercial shops benefit from cycle infra, ask notjustbikes and search it) The reason we dont use the bicycle more often is because cars. Cars monopolized our streets takin…

Post by pjmlp » Tue, Mar 19, 2024, 3:49 PM UTC

ace_of_spades wrote: post #72

pjmlp wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And weather, some of us aren't into sweety arrival at the office, or completely soaked in water/snow. Yeah I know about clothes, snow spikes and such, no thanks.

There are also bikes with wind shields and roofs. Also battery powered acceleration support. Probably also heating if you are so inclined. Just saying bikes can be pretty comfortable if that’s what you need.

Post by pjmlp » Tue, Mar 19, 2024, 7:54 PM UTC

drekk wrote: post #74

pjmlp wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And weather, some of us aren't into sweety arrival at the office, or completely soaked in water/snow. Yeah I know about clothes, snow spikes and such, no thanks.

... people might sweat or get dirty if they had to bike their office commute, so the only logical option is to accelerate a climate controlled 1-2 ton metal room for each worker or we could reimagine commutes? they only exist because we redesigned our environments around cars.

Post by pjmlp » Tue, Mar 19, 2024, 10:02 PM UTC

k99x55 wrote: post #76

drekk wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

... people might sweat or get dirty if they had to bike their office commute, so the only logical option is to accelerate a climate controlled 1-2 ton metal room for each worker or we could reimagine commutes? they only exist because we redesigned our environments around cars.

And with ebikes, you can easily do 20km (with hills) and not sweat too much. And ... you can always take a quick shower at the workplace no? Cycling is not a tour-de-france style of cycling, most ppl can easily cycle 20kmh without much effort... And why focus only on commute? Commutes benefit more from public transport. cycling is optimal for short distances, errand-type of trips: nearby shop, school, pharmacy etc

Post by BizarroLand » Wed, Mar 20, 2024, 6:35 PM UTC

adrian_b wrote: post #37

lambdaba wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The more it advances, the bigger and out of control it gets. Yet my present computer can do far more than the one I had, say 30 years ago, when things were "simpler".

While that is true, most of the current complexity has nothing to do with enabling the present computers to do far more. Most of the complexity is caused either by the need to provide backward compatibility or by the fact that the many parties who design the components of a computer had very different ideas about which is the right way to design them (so many compatibility layers are required) or by the fact that the…