Re: Thoughts on industrial design

AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> writes:

https://www.renehersecycles.com/driving-an-analog-car-in-a-digital-world/
>
Although I'm disposed toward Subaru among modern autos, his 1992 is in
no way 'analog'.
Electronic not adjustable voltage regulator, electronic ignition with
computer real time monitoring/adjustment rather than adjustable
mechanical-actuated points, electronic fuel injectors rather than
carburetors.
>
He did dump the slushbox for an actual gearbox, which is nice.

I guess "digital" and "analog" now have poetical definitions.  It's hard
to imagine a mechanism more inherently digital than a manual
transmission.  It has a handful of states, literally enumerable on the
digits, at least for ordinary cars.  Each one corresponds to the ratio
of small whole numbers (I'm calling zero a whole number).

Of course to use a manual transmission normally a pedal clutch is
required, and that is not quite digital.

Contrast the digital transmission to an automatic of the classic era.
The torque converter is a reduction gearing device, but with an unfixed
ratio depending in an analog manner on speed and torque.  Meanwhile the
selection of gear is handled by what is essentially a hydraulic *analog*
computer.

Consider one of the more digital features of the sort of auto not made
any more -- the ignition switch.  It's either on, or off, or cranking.
Later models added an accessory setting, I guess when radios got thrifty
enough to play with the motor off.  There is very little doubt what each
setting means.  True, all of the Subarus with which I am familiar turn
the headlights off with the ignition, but that's easy to get used to,
and has saved me a few batteries.

Contrast this with modern vehicles, where "on" and "off" are merely
labels for two states of the user interface, defined by the arbitrary
taste of whichever committee designed it.  Turn your car off and it will
still feel free to download a software update or report you to your
insurance company -- not a very digital switch at all.  If you've got a
truly modern one it might decide to go find you, like a lonely dog.

On the other hand, if you want to experience the depths of true "off",
just let that atavistic 12V battery run down, and prepare to find an
experienced mechanic with a jump starter just to get the door open,
never mind rolling down the windows.

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