Nice!
On a similar note, I’m a big believer in the benefits of all students taking a computer programming and an algorithms course. Similar to why students must take math in grade school, those courses help to strengthen critical thinking and analysis skills.
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In completely agreement with you on technology. At 68, it’s a tool and not a way of life. Cricket phone used for the basics as you’ve stated. 2005 Dodge Ram pickup, though I’d much prefer a late 60s or early 70s 4X4 Suburban. I only drive about 3K per year–neighborhood errands and the occasional medical appointment across town. Today I’m taking both my bike (Treks) to the shop for some minor repairs, or I would be peddaling the metro trails. I have access to any tech I want, but have no need for a pad, a laptop, digital drawing board or gaming equipment. Gardening today. Get the point? I would rather be outside.
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I’ll agree with that, but IMHO - that’s not the problem. The problem is with the over-complication of UIs. It doesn’t have to be that complicated. I’ve designed HUNDREDS of software UI solutions over the past 45+ years. KISS - has always been my moto (and should be for every good engineer). I’ve redesigned user interfaces that were extremely complicated just to make them simple. Back in the 80’s and 90’s many of the end-users were very computer illiterate. Making it as simple as possible with all the functionality was the main goal. It was a little harder to accomplish, but far better for the end-user. And it’s not just computers. My Toyota 4runner had an overly complicated HVAC control system. Far too complicated then it needed to be. My 84 GMC pickup HVAC system was as simple to use as it gets…with all the same functionalities. Toyota learned its lesson and my 2014 Highlander has a much simpler HVAC user interface without losing any functionality. Many of these over complicated systems - blame the engineers.
That’s exactly my point. Devices, like cars, with lots of tech capabilities often make it very hard to use those capabilities. Bad UIs are, unfortunately, common. Also, some devices, like aftermarket head units for sound systems, can be close to useless while driving because of the many small buttons with tiny labels, impossible to read at a glance:
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I have written rather involved computer programs going back to the punch card days. I have used sophisticated statistical software. I have worked with back propagation neural net software. Unfortunately, I am at a complete loss when it comes to the programmable thermostats at the church I attend. I finally set one thermostat on “permanent hold” and we adjust the temperature setting manually.
Thirty two years ago. I had a 1990 Ford Aerostar that wasn’t running well. I knew it was missing on one cylinder. The Aerostar was still under warranty, so I took it to the Ford dealer. An hour later, I received a telephone call from the service manager that told me that there was something wrong with my vehicle. I replied, “Yes, I brought it to you to be fixed. I didn’t bring it for a social visit”. The service manager replied, “We can’t fix it because the computer doesn’t tell us what is wrong and we can’t fix it under warranty”.
I told them to short out each spark plug and if shorting out a particular spark plug didn’t make a difference, then that would pin point the problem. I said that if this didn’t pinpoint the problem, I would pay for an hour labor charge. An hour later, the service manager called back and said my Aerostar was fixed and there would be no charge. When I picked up.the Aerostar, the service manager showed me the defective spark plug. The ceramic had broken away around the center electrode. I bet the service manager that replacing the spark plug was a temporary fix and I would be back. I was right. The engine had a cracked cylinder head. The coolant would leak into the combustion chamber and eventually crack the ceramic around the electrode. The engine was replaced under warranty.
Now I will admit that the computer is useful as a diagnostic tool for car engines, but it doesn’t replace thinking. I live in a house with Mrs. Triedaq and 2 cats. I can’t tell them what to do–they tell me what to do. However, I won’t let my computer tell me what to do.
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Heck, I still haven’t figured out how to properly work the CD player in the 2004 Infinity, I have loaded 2 CD’s in it so far but have no idea how to change from one CD to the other, it just plays what it wants to play… lol
One day I might figure it out or get around to reading the owners manual…
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Similarly, for several years, Lexus utilized a mouse-like device on the console, which drivers had to utilize in order to use the HVAC system as well as a lot of other functions–and every auto writer/reviewer hated it, as did owners.
By 2022, they had done away that quirky feature, instead using very direct touch-screen functions, with only a few submenus for rarely-used features.
The stereo in your post is practically future proof! It plays physical media and is also bluetooth compatible with a BT cassette adaptor.
Yeah the Bose stereo system still rocks in the car, love cranking up Megadeth using the CD player, haven’t tried the cassette player yet, but the radio is staticky and the Bluetooth charger in the cig lighter port doesn’t sound that good either, staticky… I am VERY picky about the sound quality of the music I listen to…
For a guy with good taste in cars, you have awful taste in music.
I have listened to Gospel (family in it and friends also), Country (old and new), Classical, Classical Rock/Metal (Yngwie J Malmsteen & Joe Satriani ), Symphony and love it when the symphony back a rock band like Metallica, Blues & Jazz, even some Rap, I grew up listening to all kinds of music and like about anything with strings, drums and pianos as well as vocals… I don’t like computer generated music, it’s not real… But I do have a very large range of music that I like, more so than most people, from very hard heavy metal to Gospel… You should kick back and close your eyes and listen to some Evanescence, Amy Lee’s voice is incredibly powerful, like Celine Dion and Whitney Houston… Iron Maidens Bruce Dickinson has an Operatic voice, very powerful, Disturbed’s David Draiman another powerful voice just to name a few…
So awful - maybe, diversified - most definitely…
And some of them are really into cars and Bruce even has his pilots license and an IQ of 167 and pilots the bands own 747 plane…
My apology’s for going off topic, but I do listen to this stuff in my car while driving… lol
I, too, am a musical schizophrenic! 
When my phone is on shuffle, I go from Tchaikovsky to Zappa to Firefall to Kool & The Gang.
You can add an aftermarket backup camera.
Most of the time it’s NOT the tech that’s making it hard to use. It’s the way it was designed. We’ve seen it in cars all the time. Car manufacturers have redesigned systems to make it easier to use. the HVAC system in my Highlander is considerably upgrade in Tech over the HVAC system in my 05 4runner, but it’s so much simpler to use.
Another example… I have an Iphone. With the Entune system that came with the Highlander - I could answer my phone and talk to the person hands free. Not that easy to make a call though. And while driving I couldn’t/wouldn’t send a text. I upgraded audio to a system with carplay.
To call home I press the phone button on steering wheel and say - “Call Home”. To call my wife on her mobile phone i press the phone button and say - “Call wife on mobile”. To send a text - I press the phone button again and say “Send text to wife”. I then say what I want. The system converts my speech to text and then sends it. To get directions to the nearest Walmart - again I press the phone button and say “Directions to nearest Walmart.”
That’s a huge advance in technology over Toyota’s Entune system, and at the same time significantly less complicated and much easier to use with more functionality.
I posted that suggestion 4 days ago.
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Ok. I only received the email from car talk today. I did not review all the previous posts.
We can add that when parking take the forward parking spot to avoid having to back out.
We have hit on this before. Why do people find a pull through parking spot, then not pull through?
Me? I’m not going to ask them!
I sometimes have a better view backing up with my camera than I do pulling forward if I’m between some SUVs or pickups. Also, if I need access to my trunk it could be blocked if I pull through. Finally, as I’m pulling through I’m sometimes confronted by someone pulling in from the other direction. So I typically don’t pull through.
I stopped pulling through for a few months after I bought my Highlander…then the novelty of the backup camera worn off.
Just a comment about bad user interface designs- I find many of the newer designs to be confusing and wonder how they made it past the numerous design reviews and focus groups prior to being implemented. Then my younger son gets ahold of it and has absolutely no difficulties or complaints. It seems very intuitive to him. I think it must be related to the computer/gaming interfaces so prevalent now. I find those difficult to master but the younger generation prefers them that way. For certain, some things are poorly designed but in general maybe it’s not as bad as older people think. Perhaps we’re not the primary target market anymore 
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