INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

Well, I drive a lot, often for three or more hours at a stretch. My car has a five CD player and its a great thing. Before I leave, I put in the discs I may want to hear, then I don't have to fumble through various compartments to change discs while driving - making a nuissance of myslef on the road while doing so (or even worse, have to pull off the road to do it). Is it necessary, no, but it is quite convenient. Then again, a CD player isn't necessary at all in a car. For that matter neither is AC, heaters, cup holders, shock absorbers, noise dampening interiors, etc. The car will get you from point A to point B without these things, but they do make the ride better.

One of the goals of industrial design, especially in terms of "old technologies" like cars, is to make the experience better and that's what a more than one CD, CD player helps to do. We can quible about whther five or six is too many. I've had similar discussions about disposible razors which are up to five blades. But friends who use them swear the shave they get is better. I think as long as there is perceived value from such largesse, it's OK.

Silas-Thanks for the excellent response on the blog subject. I asked for a comment and you provided! I agree that we really dont need AC, heaters, cupholders, etc, but industry is heading for a slow meltdown as far as technology is concerned. More and more jobs are moving overseas as our leadership dwindles. More and more high technology is being done offshore. Engineering in this country is disappearing-while in China and India it is expanding. You know this, and so do I. I have no easy answers, but I have a lot of concern. Thanks-James

Q: "Do I need 3 vehicles in the yard at one time?"

I want to respond to the because it is my thought exactly!! I have 4 vehicles in my yard. One is a 62 VW beetle that was my first car, I keep it for sentimental reasons but I don't get the time to drive it... Besides, it is unsafe (no safety bels, poor brakes etc) although it goes like a bomb... and no radio or air cond. It is also noisy and dies when it is cold. It is fun to drive but I am not always in the mood for this type of fun. My other car is a 2004 Ford pick-up truck. It has all the comfort, AC, radio, smooth ride... But it is heavy on fuel. Then there is the VW jetta that I can't get rid of because it was a gift from my father and he does not want to sell it. He says it is the family emergency car. But I am the keeper and up to now there never was such an emergency, yet... Then there is the restoration project. 1952 Austin A40. I don't want to talk about it...

I think less IS more and it is better to keep your life simple. Have one good car and when the time comes sell it and get another good car. I am going to try to cut with the sentiments... one day, sooon..... I HOPE!!

I also have 4 vehicles, and 2 boats! Each has a purpose, and I use all at regular intervals depending on what we wish to do. A 1993 Buick Century transports the wife when she wishes to go someplace in some comfort. She no longer drives. My 1984 chevy C-10 pickup hauls "stuff", lots of stuff, from sails to manure. For fun travel, we often travel in the 1975 GMC motorhome towing a small 1995 Saturn. For several years we traveled up and down the east coast of the United States in a 36 ft sailboat towing or carrying an inflatable boat. We now just sail the Cheapeake bay. This only demonstrates that single purpose devices are, at least to me, the easiest way to conduct business (peasure), we are long since retired.

Well if you have the space and time available you can have as many single purpose devices as you are able to maintain and store. What gets me is to see how they deteriorate and become more effort than use full. I wish there was a device that you can adapt for a single purpose just by changing the shell. What about designing a vehicle that is only the drive train and running gear. When you want a pick-up, you change the shell... or boat, you change the shell or light aircraft... just fantasizing..

"Do I need 3 vehicles in the yard at one time?"

I've got two - one that is in use, and the one I want to use, but it's needing rebuilt - and has been for ~2½ years.

The useful car is the third one in the time - as each is brought to the standard I want, some disaster has befallen it.

Why keep the other? - no-one has bettered the design for my convenience since!

This car is a Citroen CX Familiale - an estate with 8 seats, plus boot space, is aerodynamic and has a 1tonne payload. All the recent "people carriers" have little or no boot space, just 7 seats, and are square and high - not easy to put bikes on top.

I may give up on the "restoration" if something does come on the market - but I'm not holding my breath.

Not my car, but the same type.

(This picture was chosen because it makes mine look better)

IMHO no one really needs 3 cars, please notice that I said cars, not vehicles, because with bikes, man, that's a whole different story!!

One for commuting to work that's saves on gas and is reliable and comfy,

A sport one for track days,

A cruiser for those days when you want to, well, cruise!

A sport tourer for those mid lenght trips when some twisties are expected.

A full dress tourer to travel coast to coast

An enduro/trail bike for those times when you want to get dirty

A supermotard just for fun

Etc.

Etc.

Etc.

...........a fully closed bike for those rainy days....

one with a side car for those bulky stuff.....

one with a long trailer to haul hardware and materials to the workshop.....

OR.... a CAR!!

It's clear you don't have a bike!