Copyright – The Reclining Gentleman
“So that’s their story – from the simple lightbulb to a couple of bright ideas that changed the world. They wanted profits and progress, but got more than they bargained for.
“Now, on to motorway etiquette classes. You’re a state-of-the-art unit; you’ll speed through in no time. And remember: regular servicing means trouble-free motoring.”
“Thanks, Precursor. Are we finished?”
“I am. My time’s up when I hand over to you. That’s what planned obsolescence is all about. Make the most of your year – it’ll zoom by. Any questions?”
“Just one – where’d they go?”
“They became obsolete. They didn’t plan that.”
*****
Last night I watched two interesting items on TV that seemed to fit with this week’s Friday Fictioneers prompt. Whether or not I’ve managed to develop these ideas in a meaningful way in my story, is yet to be seen. So – here are two links to shed some light, just in case.
Thanks, as always, to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for choosing each week’s prompt, and for directing the traffic that flows through this webpage each week.
*****
The Great Lightbulb Conspiracy – IEEE Spectrum (Click on the picture to read the article.)
Photo-illustration: Gluekit; Lightbulb: Fin Stewar
It appears that driverless cars will soon appear on the streets of Adelaide, South Australia. Here’s a link to the story. The travellers in the video below seem very relaxed, riding along in comfort, trusting fully in the intelligent design of their vehicle, but I’m uneasy. Do we really know what the machines are thinking?
Onto the page 
I like the cynicism, though I’m not convinced “they” are capable of that much planning.
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I hope not. Thanks for your comment, Mick.
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Dear Margaret,
I have to wonder what that car is going to cost. I liked the voice in this story, although it’s a little chilling when you think about it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I think we human drivers are secure for a while yet, although the way some of us drive, I’m not sure we should be. Thanks for commenting.
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This is scary stuff. I often worry about this sort of thing, and driverless cars? Not for me, thanks! I was a passenger in a car yesterday and kept trying to push the brake pedal. That was bad enough 🙂
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I don’t think you’re the only passenger with an itchy brake foot. They say the driverless cars are much better drivers than we are, and I don’t find that hard to believe. Thank you for the comment.
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I’m the most terrible passenger and am always trying to push the brake pedal. My husband is always saying, “Well, if you think you can drive better, you drive then”, after I’ve berated him for not indicating, being in the wrong lane, driving too slowly or too fast, not thanking people for giving way to him, turning out of a junction when he can’t see what’s coming, etc.
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Such an imaginative story, that is one scary subject. Where to draw the line? I am sure many things we use today were perceived as signs of the impending apocalypse.
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We do seem to be making ourselved obsolete in several areas, but as you say, we’ve been predicting the apocalypse for decades now. The technology to make us totally redundant is pretty slow in arriving, thank goodness. I’m glad you liked the story.
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It’s a bit worrying, isn’t it. I think I’ll go back to Regency times (nice wigs for men).
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That’s a good idea, although there are quite a few modern conveniences I’d like to take with me if I did that. Not sure about the wigs – I just hate to imagine the wildlife that thrived under those sweaty hairpieces, considering the olden day attitudes to cleanliness.
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Regency times would be good for me. I could use a nice wig. As for driverless cars, they are in certain cities now here in the states and there have been quite a few accidents already, though none were life threatening. At least, they didn’t release that information!
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Accidents eh? That’s interesting. The bits and pieces I read were making big claims for better safety in a driverless car. If I were to choose a time to stop all progress, I’d make it right now, or maybe go back just a couple of decades. I like the conveniences I have, but I sometimes feel it’s leaving most of us behind – it’s such a full time effort to keep up with each new thing that’s possible.
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I think the accidents were only minor fender benders. But still….
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every progress carries with it its own baggage. something to think about.
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True. As long as we do keep thinking about it.
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The technology of today is just mind boggling. They have had cars that park themselves for many years but I have yet to see one. Good story. Loved the obsolescence.
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I could do with a car that can park itself – I’m the world’s worst. I’m glad you liked the obsolescence. I did struggle to blend in the two ideas – lightbulbs and driverless cars. Thanks for the comment, Irene.
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Now parking is one job that I would happily hand over to the car. We can’t both be the world’s worst parkers, Margaret. I win. Nobody can be as bad as me!
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If computers ever develop independence of self and will, we really may be obsolete (in their view). About the driverless car: I’ve so been waiting for them, but I’m getting older and older and am afraid that I won’t make it until they go into mass production. When they become reliant: no more speeding and chasing slower cars from the lanes, no more sleepy truck drivers who get involved in horrible accidents, no more hour-long traffic jams, and the time used for driving can actually be spent with something more interesting, yay! Maybe VW’s dieselgate will speed things up. Great story.
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I agree with your litany of woes – for the last 9 months I’ve had a one hour drive to work and back, including freeway and suburban main roads with traffic lights at nearly every intersection. This is after living just 10 minutes away from work before that. And we drive a VW diesel, so the news on that front didn’t make us very happy. Thanks for the nice comment about the story
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Driving is the only reason to own a car, otherwise why? Go by bus, it’s cheaper. Well done!
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That’s an interesting perspective. I wonder if we’ll get driverless buses and trains – I could imagine that. Thanks for the feedback.
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Imagine the stories.. “a long time ago humans where actually allowed to propel tons of metal at breathtaking speed.. thank god for well programmed robots.”
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Ha! Yes – our track record isn’t good. Thanks, Bjorn.
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I think I’m on the path to planned obsolescence already. There are new models already on the market that can outperform me, but my wife just can’t afford to upgrade.
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That’s sad, Russell. Do you have schemes in your part of the world where people go shares in a holiday apartment? Maybe someone will start up a husband upgrade share scheme. Maybe a quarter or third share of a new model would work for some of us. I think the idea’s appealing.
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Wonderful take, Margaret. i’m certain planned obsolescence is what makes capitalism chug along the way that it does. We have no choice but to get the “latest” item and cars are no exception. Just when you paid them off…
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Exactly. That was the plan right from the very first light bulb cartel. They know how to squeeze every cent from us. Thanks for your encouraging comment, Amy.
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I like this ” from the simple lightbulb to a couple of bright ideas…” And the part about planned obsolescence. Seems like every device has a expiration date these days. One year is pretty short though. Could get expensive.
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That’s true. Maybe I should have given them a bit longer. Thank you for your comment, Deborah.
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No that probably came out wrong on my part. I think you made a point that the planned obsolescence is getting shorter and shorter and it could be taken to this crazy endpoint of things giving out after a very short time. 🙂
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I remember more than forty years ago being 8 years old and watching films about the driverless cars of the future.
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Me too. I think they’re here – but just how successful they will be remains to be seen. Thanks for commenting, Dawn.
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It seems they’re here, but I wonder if they’ll really become commonplace. Thanks for commenting.
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Good story Margaret. It’s as I always suspected. How else could companies make so much money. Thanks for the helpful links. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Exactly. They need us to keep spending. Thanks, Suzanne. I’m glad you liked the story.
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Doubtless these cars will be computerised and therefore vulnerable to hackers and cyber attack.
Well done with this story, Margaret. It was unnerving and got me thinking.
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Now there’s a worrying thought. Sorry to unnerve you, Sarah, but I’m happy it got you thinking. Thank you for leaving a comment.
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