# Sometimes Technology Just Complicates Things **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 29, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482 "2025-07-29T20:27:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/101 "2026-01-09T18:20:50Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > That’s true, to some extent. But it seems a bit over the top for someone to think, “Hey! I should put a digital picture frame in my parents’ living room and remotely control what they see and hear.” (I believe it also does small videos.) Might be a step beyond our choosing to watch TV or follow on Facebook, which, of course, I don’t do…and she knows it. That doesn’t sound over the top at _all_. I think that’s a you thing. My parents _love_ to see pics of their grandchildren. The screensaver on their TV used to be the photo album of all the recent kids pics. That feature doesn’t work on their new TV (even though it should) and my dad spent hours trying to make it work to no avail. They would love to get a present like that. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/102 "2026-01-09T18:28:30Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > I create lots of small calendar entries for mundane tasks most often ad-hoc ( → _call Cris to return hecksaw_) … so, even if you create them in google-calendar, does it not show the reason why of the alarm on the watch (maybe a setting in the alarm-function of the watch)? I think it shows stuff from Google Calendar, though I don’t know because I use Outlook primarily. You can set reminders that gently vibrate with a label on them, and I use those, too, but sometimes I just need an alarm. I almost never read reminders as soon as they come up, so I try not to use those for time critical purposes, but more stuff like (monthly) “reconcile checking account” and (weekly) “clean CPAP.” An alarm is like, “stop messing around and go get your laundry before you forget it’s in there.” Or, “You’ve forgotten to do this five times already so this time I really mean it.” ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/103 "2026-01-09T18:42:55Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I did a similar thing once. > […] > So, I made a Raspberry Pi Python app which turned the TV on and off at preset times, cycled through a folder of images, changing them every 3 hours, and even allowed skipping to the next image by remote control. I was actually surprised at how many people have a need to do this. I posted the code to GitHub with a goof proof installer and made a video showing how it worked and how to set it up. It’s all driven by great open-source command-line tools like ImageMagik and LibreOffice, Ghostscript, and pqiv, knit together with a set of scripts that run as services, with Samba providing the “drop box”. Most of my mildly technical videos are lucky to pass 100 views, but this one has 1,200 views so far. So anyone who wants to set up a simple announcements display with a spare TV: [A DIY, Free-Software Announcements Frame for Churches and Small Shops](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhjDjFGb8qQ) ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/104 "2026-01-09T18:45:47Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > That doesn’t sound over the top at _all_. I think that’s a you thing. My parents _love_ to see pics of their grandchildren. The screensaver on their TV used to be the photo album of all the recent kids pics. My sister bought one of those frames for my mother. Mom loves seeing new pictures of her grandchild pop up randomly. The spirit of this thread was about new technological features that makes things more complicated with very little benefit. I suppose the frames are more complicated than a regular photo, but the benefit seems obvious to me. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/105 "2026-01-09T18:49:55Z")
All grandparents want is to see pics of their grandchildren. Makes gift-giving so much easier. My husband does a Mixbook (photobook) featuring our son every year and every year his parents and grandmother coo and demand more. I am not a grandparent but I would imagine someone getting random, real-time photos of their grandchildren beamed into their living room is straight euphoria. Probably especially true if they live far away. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/106 "2026-01-09T18:59:09Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I am not a grandparent but I would imagine someone getting random, real-time photos of their grandchildren beamed into their living room is straight euphoria. Yep. I want one ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/107 "2026-01-09T19:22:01Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > All grandparents want is to see pics of their grandchildren > [@Procrustus](#): > > Yep. I want one Absolutely! Used for their intended purpose, I think these digital frames are a fun and amazing bit of technology to bridge the generations. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/108 "2026-03-13T23:11:15Z")
Fancy Smancy glass backetball court being replaced with wood after less than a week. I cannot find an estimate for the cost. I’m going to guess a shitload. [https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/\_/id/48191727/big-12-swap-led-glass-court-hardwood-semis-final](https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48191727/big-12-swap-led-glass-court-hardwood-semis-final) ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/109 "2026-03-13T23:39:11Z")
OMG, at first I thought you were talking about the backboard. This is the whole floor of the court that was an LED screen. What a terrible idea. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/110 "2026-03-13T23:41:09Z")
I also thought it was the backboard that was replaced. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/111 "2026-03-13T23:43:32Z")
It DID look cool! ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/112 "2026-05-12T13:30:22Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > My GMC truck has a “parking assist” feature that uses sensors in the bumpers to warn me with an annoying beep if I get close to anything. Except it is stupid and useless, crying “wolf” all of the time. The first time i had this feature it bothered me, because i interpreted the beeping as “too close”, and it beeped every time i pulled into my garage. Then i realized that the beeping varied depending on how close i was. And i reinterpreted it as “this close”, and treated it as a clunky form of sonar. After that, i found it helpful. I’m happy to have it on my new car. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/113 "2026-05-12T14:33:37Z")
'Zactly. It’s an audible ruler of distances you can’t necessarily see well. You have 3 feet, 2.5 feet, 2 feet, _1.5 feet_, **1 foot** , _ **6 inches!!!** _ as the beeping gets faster, louder, and more insistent. It also plays the sound from the corner of the audio system where the risk is. Right front, left rear, middle left, etc. Darn handy. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/114 "2026-05-12T15:51:04Z")
About the Internet-connected, collectively-filled picture frames: We have one in the family, on my sibling’s desk at work. The content is in the Cloud, and everybody in the family gets notified when a new picture is added. So far, so good. The usual suspect will upload a funny or embarrassing picture once in a while, haha, but generally it works. Then one of the youngsters got separated. On amicable terms, but still. What do we do with the former girlfriend? She’s on the mailing list and in some of the pictures. Do we delete the pictures where she appears? She’ll _see_ that. Do we expell her from the group? Pictures on the mantlepiece were simpler. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/115 "2026-05-12T16:13:15Z")
I would remove her from the mailing list. I no longer use the group chat that included my son’s ex. My son is still friendly with his ex, they are on a lot of the same discord servers and say nice things about each other’s knitting projects. And I’m in some of the same in-real-life social groups as his ex, and we are still friendly, too. But the ex is no longer part of my family. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/116 "2026-05-13T20:17:22Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > Do we expell her from the group? Absolutely, but first take away her ability to upload. What a way to get back at an ex - share _their_ nekkid pics on their family’s album. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/117 "2026-05-14T10:53:01Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > > > I never understood a remote control device for your car stereo. It’s not like you’re not within arms reach of the stereo. > > If you listen to radio (remember radio?), especially on a cross country trip where you are unfamiliar with the stations, the remote is a great way to scan for stations without having to look at the radio or reach for the knob (remember knobs?). Especially if you are in traffic and don’t need the distraction. Just place your thumb on the remote and push away until you find a station you like. It doesn’t sound like much, but it is really useful for that. Wait, a radio remote for THE CAR? Yeah, that is stupid. So now I have the distraction of fishing under the seat for the remote whenever I drop it. The actual modern technology solution is radio controls on the steering wheel and voice controls with station info displayed on the car’s HUD. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482/118 "2026-05-14T11:22:43Z")
Sprinkler timers/clocks. I really mis the old electro/mechanical timers. Very easy to ‘program’ and a quick glance at it showed exactly what it was going to do. The new digital jobs are a pain in the ass to program, and understand just what it’s gonna do. I’ve worked for three sprinkler companies, one that I owned, and then was a programmer for 33 years. A lot of this was brought on because of watering restrictions, I get that. Also they are a hell of a lot cheaper. But stop putting too many function in too few buttons (press and hold for this, press quickly for that. Press \< and \> for this other thing). And by god if you insist on doing that make the instructions clear and easy to understand. And give me a bloody ‘RESET’ button so I can start from scratch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-technology-just-complicates-things/1021482.md?page=5)