Re: I know it's tricky if you've never had one....
Yeah. My (ex)wife hated my big speakers. But my girlfriend loves them. She appreciates size. And rankin' bass.
Posts by JonoClouds
6 publicly visible posts • joined 3 Nov 2012
Ancient telly, check. Sonos sound system, check. OMG WOAH
Brits are world's most wired drivers, says fleet tracker CEO
Friday 20th September 2013 11:26 GMT
Back in 1995 I did some embedded firmware as a contractor at a marvellous little company called Oakrange Engineering. They had started out doing tacho servicing, then expanded into what they called Black Boxes for trucks. The product did everything that is claimed in the article, even in 1995. We even used the then almost unheard-of Small Message Service to send messages to a display in the driver's cab. Yes, the same service that is now (ab)used 100s of times a day by gossiping teenagers who like to call it "texting" and think that they are all modern and very, very clever..
The system did indeed monitor fuel consumption, rpm and braking. It could save clients significant sums in time, fuel and vehicle wear. Perhaps if "professional" drivers used their vehicles efficiently, without needless harsh braking, long periods of unnecessary idling and so on then they would not find themselves resenting what they call a spy in the cab.
Oakrange Engineering was run by a truly smashing MD (he did not adopt the pompous Americanism "CEO"), it is one of my enduring regrets that he was unable to expand the business and enjoy greater success today. He was just too nice to see off the bullies that don't care who they destroy.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
