Beware - the future is closer than you think

[ColinM]

and it's not all good news.

See below a friend's Facebook message about a problem he had with Apple TV's voice recognition and automated systems that aren't quite good enough to deal with the real world

[Tristin]

😂😂😂

[John Geerts]

 

[ColinM]

Just remind me.
What sort of integration did you guys want with your cameras?
GPRS, WiFi, Bluetooth?

The future's going to be....full of things we don't currently have to worry about

[Frank Fremerey]

I want a mechanical camera with diopter adjustment no display and RAW recording.

FM-D

I generally switch off all advanced and non photographic features.

[ColinM]

Ok, given Frank's suggestion of a manual (maybe un-foolable) camera, can anyone give some more examples of when a new technology has caused you problems that just never used to happen?

Like the new Apple account listed at the top?

To get the ball rolling, when I first graduated from a basic mobile phone (year 2001) to one with T9 predictive text, it seemed like a game changer. Roll on to 2016 and the predictive text on my Android phone promises more, but in practice comes up with words I've never heard of so in some ways is a step back....

[armando_m]

Things evolve, technology evolve and our "needs" evolve

a few comparisons ... and I think each has it's own set of problems that we didn't have with the alternative, although the advantages are more than the disadvantages

• doing banking online, instead of going to the bank and standing in line
• netflix, instead of channel surfing
• my digital camera  vs film
• processing the images on my computer vs developing film by a crappy lab
• autofocus vs manual focus
• my fuel injected reliable car vs the old carburated with points ignition that needed frequent service, lacked power , was less safe and polluted more
• reading news articles on the internet vs specialized magazines
• collaboration on this community vs not even knowing who you guys are
• medicine, materials, techniques everything is evolving

Trying new technology is always "trying" but I do not think innovation and progress should stop I had my share of trying new experiences, and often the situations created by people using whatever the new thing is

I certainly like my D800 much much much better than the D300 and the previous D40

[ColinM]

Good points Armando.

So just to confirm, I wasn't trying to be a Luddite and say all change is bad. It's just that sometimes change brings some discomfort

• Because us Humans need to adapt (often our mindsets)
• Because the vendor didn't think through all the implications of their change

In the Apple example at the top of this post, maybe the problem was caused by "Pilot error".
However my bet is that the vendor was too optimistic with their design and hadn't catered for enough diferent real-world situations.

One point you raised did chime with me though.
I've just been looking at some B&W prints I made back in 1984. I don't know how I can ever re-create these because:
- Even changing from a condensing enlarger to a diffusing (colour) enlarger the next year changed the way images came out
- I haven't been able to scan these Kodak technical Pan negs with my Minolta Dualscan and get a file that I feel holds the same quality.
   Put this one down to pilot inexperience, or just not using good enough kit.
- I used Kodak Selenium toner on the original B&W prints.
  I guess there is probably a LR setting for any effect we want, but i haven't been able to find this one yet.

So yes, computer processing is great and better in many ways. But for me, I also left something behind when I ditched the darkroom.

[armando_m]

Good points Armando.

So just to confirm, I wasn't trying to be a Luddite and say all change is bad. It's just that sometimes change brings some discomfort

• Because us Humans need to adapt (often our mindsets)
• Because the vendor didn't think through all the implications of their change

In the Apple example at the top of this post, maybe the problem was caused by "Pilot error".
However my bet is that the vendor was too optimistic with their design and hadn't catered for enough diferent real-world situations.

One point you raised did chime with me though.
I've just been looking at some B&W prints I made back in 1984. I don't know how I can ever re-create these because:
- Even changing from a condensing enlarger to a diffusing (colour) enlarger the next year changed the way images came out
- I haven't been able to scan these Kodak technical Pan negs with my Minolta Dualscan and get a file that I feel holds the same quality.
   Put this one down to pilot inexperience, or just not using good enough kit.
- I used Kodak Selenium toner on the original B&W prints.
  I guess there is probably a LR setting for any effect we want, but i haven't been able to find this one yet.

So yes, computer processing is great and better in many ways. But for me, I also left something behind when I ditched the darkroom.

To bad we're not face to face in a pub .... Cheers !