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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
 Posted - 02/18/2012 : 11:48:36
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2012 : 22:33:23 [Permalink]
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There's actually a grain of truth in my nonsense above. It's bothered me for some time that cell phones are one of the few examples of mass technology that has actually regressed in quality from what existed over a century ago. At least in terms of voice quality and reliability, landline telephony of the late 1800's was probably superior. (The little detail like the portability thing, I grant, is a major advance.  )
We now accept as a given (though often we do so with little grace) signal quality that would have prompted regulatory intervention in the bad old days of one cable pair, one telephone company. |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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chefcrsh
Skeptic Friend
Hong Kong
380 Posts |
Posted - 02/19/2012 : 02:22:39 [Permalink]
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| Oi! Then you would not enjoy reading Being Digital by Negroponte. Just think of the incredible resource waste that is the fax, by the time fax (essentially an email in and out box attached to a modem, hooked up to a printer) was affordable email was more so and far more easy and friendly but damned those mammals and their need for paper and signatures. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Being_Digital |
| Edited by - chefcrsh on 02/19/2012 02:23:57 |
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chefcrsh
Skeptic Friend
Hong Kong
380 Posts |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 02/19/2012 : 05:33:50 [Permalink]
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| Thanks much for the interesting links, chfcrsh. I want to make clear that I treasure what technology can do. It's just this one backward movement that voice telephony has made that leaves me utterly gobsmacked. It boggles my mind to think that so many millions -- including myself -- are accepting cell telephony quality that's clearly inferior to that of landline telephony of 100 years ago. |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26021 Posts |
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chefcrsh
Skeptic Friend
Hong Kong
380 Posts |
Posted - 02/19/2012 : 07:52:03 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Dave W.
At least people are really making these.
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Yeah huh? But I never saw anyone buy or use one. |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 02/19/2012 : 08:31:14 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Dave W.
At least people are really making these.
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Cool!
Back in the early 1970's, I rejiggered a handset of that kind by putting a speaker in the earpiece and a mic in the mouthpiece, and putting a "talk" button on the handle. I then plugged the thing into my CB walkie-talkie. In the days before even analog "brick" portable phones, I got a lot of stares from people when I walked down San Francisco's Market Street while talking on that headset. |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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"Ma Belle Kit" revolutionizes your cell phone!
