Machines that are too smart for their own good.

Agammamon · 7th May 2003, 12:15 PM

I was reading a small article on Ars-Technica about RFID tags and how they can be used to tell your washing machine how to wash a garment or what settings your microwave should be set on to cook food when I realized that isn't necessarily a useful feature.
As an example, here at work I have a copier that is "intelligent" meaning that it is supposed to know what I want to copy. What really happens is if I put a large sheet of paper in, it refuses to copy until I put the same size paper in the tray. Nevermind that I only want part of the large sheet copied, it "knows"better. Or using Word. When writing documents, Word tries to force me into using its built in templates, regardless of what I want to do.

I think what would solve these types of problems is a nice big overide button, one that will tell the machineto stop argueing and just do as its told, I mean if I wanted back talk I'd just hire a person.

scribble · 7th May 2003, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Agammamon
I was reading a small article on Ars-Technica about RFID tags and how they can be used to tell your washing machine how to wash a garment or what settings your microwave should be set on to cook food when I realized that isn't necessarily a useful feature.
As an example, here at work I have a copier that is "intelligent" meaning that it is supposed to know what I want to copy. What really happens is if I put a large sheet of paper in, it refuses to copy until I put the same size paper in the tray. Nevermind that I only want part of the large sheet copied, it "knows"better. Or using Word. When writing documents, Word tries to force me into using its built in templates, regardless of what I want to do.

You, Sir, are a Linux zealot just waiting to happen.

Dancing David · 7th May 2003, 01:14 PM

Or the copier changes the orientation sometimes...

Soapy Sam · 7th May 2003, 01:58 PM

Consult a Feng Shui Master.

fishbob · 7th May 2003, 02:05 PM

At least they stopped putting the automatic seat belts in cars (most cars?). I hated those.
And those car doors that lock themselves. Those are evil.
Many of the smart copiers are easily fixed by judicious use of a ball peen hammer.

I found it interesting that the US Army Corps of Engineers selected MS Word as their standard for documents, at the same time that the US Justice Dept was investigating MicroSoft for unfair trade practices.

Ove · 8th May 2003, 02:31 AM

I must admit that i agree 100% with you. My compagny has just switched from Lotus Smart Suite, to Monopoly$oft office package and the first 14 days had me in hysterics several times trying to tell the blasted programme that I and I alone would decide how my document should look. I have (almost) succeded now but boy what a struggle.

If they only had ONE check of box: "Do you wan't help writing your letter"?? that could turn ALL "help" functions off but most are hidden in some obscure parts of the programme not easily found.

FXT · 8th May 2003, 08:27 AM

Sorry I don't have anything to add to this thread, I just wanted to say:

Old Skool, man!

I haven't seen Ars linked with a hyphen for years.
Do you frequent the fora there?

7th May 2003, 12:15 PM	#1
Agammamon Graduate Poster Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,385	Machines that are too smart for their own good. I was reading a small article on Ars-Technica about RFID tags and how they can be used to tell your washing machine how to wash a garment or what settings your microwave should be set on to cook food when I realized that isn't necessarily a useful feature. As an example, here at work I have a copier that is "intelligent" meaning that it is supposed to know what I want to copy. What really happens is if I put a large sheet of paper in, it refuses to copy until I put the same size paper in the tray. Nevermind that I only want part of the large sheet copied, it "knows"better. Or using Word. When writing documents, Word tries to force me into using its built in templates, regardless of what I want to do. I think what would solve these types of problems is a nice big overide button, one that will tell the machineto stop argueing and just do as its told, I mean if I wanted back talk I'd just hire a person.
	__________________ It will be a great day when the US Air Force has all the bombs it needs and the NEA has to hold a bake sale in order to pay its lobbyists.

7th May 2003, 12:42 PM	#2
scribble Master Poster Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 2,696	Re: Machines that are too smart for their own good. Quote: Originally posted by Agammamon I was reading a small article on Ars-Technica about RFID tags and how they can be used to tell your washing machine how to wash a garment or what settings your microwave should be set on to cook food when I realized that isn't necessarily a useful feature. As an example, here at work I have a copier that is "intelligent" meaning that it is supposed to know what I want to copy. What really happens is if I put a large sheet of paper in, it refuses to copy until I put the same size paper in the tray. Nevermind that I only want part of the large sheet copied, it "knows"better. Or using Word. When writing documents, Word tries to force me into using its built in templates, regardless of what I want to do. You, Sir, are a Linux zealot just waiting to happen.
scribble Master Poster Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 2,696	__________________ "Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true." - Homer Simpson "I was thinking about painting my house, but I was worried about how well the latex paint we bought would bond to the existing siding. So I got on the Interweb and searched for latex bondage."

7th May 2003, 01:14 PM	#3
Dancing David Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 34,708	Or the copier changes the orientation sometimes...
	__________________ Hell, dynamiting fish in a barrel is more challenging. - Ladewig I suspect you are a sandwich, metaphorically speaking. -Donn And a shot rang out. Now Space is doing time... -Ben Burch You built the toilet - don't complain when people crap in it. _Kid Eager

7th May 2003, 01:58 PM	#4
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885	Consult a Feng Shui Master.
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885

7th May 2003, 02:05 PM	#5
fishbob Seasonally Disaffected Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chilly Undieville Posts: 5,667	At least they stopped putting the automatic seat belts in cars (most cars?). I hated those. And those car doors that lock themselves. Those are evil. Many of the smart copiers are easily fixed by judicious use of a ball peen hammer. I found it interesting that the US Army Corps of Engineers selected MS Word as their standard for documents, at the same time that the US Justice Dept was investigating MicroSoft for unfair trade practices.
	__________________ When you believe in things you don't understand, then you suffer . . . " - Stevie Wonder "Stupidity - a callow indifference to facts or data" - Stuart Firestein -neuroscientist. I hate bigots.

8th May 2003, 02:31 AM	#6
Ove Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,884	I must admit that i agree 100% with you. My compagny has just switched from Lotus Smart Suite, to Monopoly$oft office package and the first 14 days had me in hysterics several times trying to tell the blasted programme that I and I alone would decide how my document should look. I have (almost) succeded now but boy what a struggle. If they only had ONE check of box: "Do you wan't help writing your letter"?? that could turn ALL "help" functions off but most are hidden in some obscure parts of the programme not easily found.
	__________________ I am sitting here, completely surrounded by NO BEER..... (Onslow)

8th May 2003, 08:27 AM	#7
FXT New Blood Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wien Posts: 17	Sorry I don't have anything to add to this thread, I just wanted to say: Old Skool, man! I haven't seen Ars linked with a hyphen for years. Do you frequent the fora there?