Tech Talk | Should we settle for the reason 'because we've always used it'?

By Mathew Dickerson
October 26 2017 - 8:00pm
The QWERTY keyboard has been is use since the late 1800s but does that really mean it's the best design?
The QWERTY keyboard has been is use since the late 1800s but does that really mean it's the best design?

SHOULD WE SETTLE FOR THE REASON ‘BECAUSE WE’VE ALWAYS USED IT’?

Back in the glory days when Australia had locally made cars, I was lucky enough to be escorted through the Toyota plant in Altona, Victoria. At the end of the tour, I asked the plant manager why the Camry still had a spare tyre. He looked at me as if I had two heads, paused, and said, “Cars have always had spare tyres.” Statistics from roadside assistance providers show that only 11.3 per cent of all call-outs are related to wheels, tyres and flats (and further stats show that most people don’t change their own tyres). Contrast this figure with 40.7 per cent of calls for help were related to a flat battery; 10.5 per cent of calls were after the fuel had run out and 8.4 per cent of people that rang for assistance had locked themselves out of their car. Car manufacturers don’t provide a spare battery or spare fuel or blue packing tape to cover these situations yet they provide a spare tyre.

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