From: bob1@cos.com (Bob Blackshaw)
Subject: Re: Dumbest automotive concepts of all time
Organization: Corporation for Open Systems
Distribution: world 
Lines: 56

In <C5HI0B.26C@constellation.ecn.uoknor.edu> callison@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu (James P. Callison) writes:

>In article <1993Apr13.220105.26409@slcs.slb.com> dcd@se.houston.geoquest.slb.com (Dan Day) writes:
>>In article <93Apr08.202003.27851@acs.ucalgary.ca> parr@acs.ucalgary.ca (Charles Parr) writes:
>>>As a long time motorcyclist, I have never understood what
>>>posessed auto builders to put delicate controls, which must
>>>be used with skill and finesse, like clutches and brakes,
>>>on the floor.
>>>
>>>Why not hand control? It's much much easier.
>>
>>In the early days, neither of these functions had power-assist, so
>>only legs had enough strength to activate them.  Since then, it's
>>been traditional and people would have a hard time getting
>>used to anything else.  

>Well, where, exactly, would you put a hand clutch and brake? On
>a motorcycle, it's easy; the handlebars have a very limited
>range of turning. Steering wheels, on the other hand, turn around
>and around and around...which is fine for electrical relays (like
>your cruise control and airbag)--but how many of you want to
>lose your clutch and/or brake due to a short circuit?

Shades of the Edsel! They had pushbuttons in the steering wheel hub
that controlled the auto tranny. It was very disconcerting to shift
into reverse when turning a corner and the wires shorted.

>There are workarounds, but there's really no reason to use hand
>power on a car's clutch or brakes, and lightening them to the
>point that they are "finesse" controls suitable for hand use
>would increse the mechanical complexity substantially (look at
>power brakes and non-power brakes for an example).

>>I saw an experimental car that had a joystick instead of a steering
>>wheel...

>That's about useless, IMHO. 

>>>Another automotive oddity is separate keys for trunks, doors, and
>>>ignitions. Why on earth would you want this?
>>
>>I know *I* don't.

>I want a separate trunk key for security reasons; it gives me a totally
>separate, lockable container. For door and ignition....ehhh, the same key's
>OK, I guess.

>				James

>James P. Callison    Microcomputer Coordinator, U of Oklahoma Law Center 
>Callison@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu   /\    Callison@aardvark.ucs.uoknor.edu   
>DISCLAIMER: I'm not an engineer, but I play one at work...
>		The forecast calls for Thunder...'89 T-Bird SC
>   "It's a hell of a thing, killing a man. You take away all he has 
>	and all he's ever gonna have." 
>			--Will Munny, "Unforgiven"
