Why has the telephone/computer technology advanced more than the automobile?

PO2 Morton Scisco — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 23:37:03 -0500

The telephone is now a minicomputer! The computer went from a huge machine in a room to something you can carry in a bag where ever you go. And yet all this advancement in technology, the car, first invented to use gas in 1886 has not changed in consumption of gasoline? The telephone was invented in 1876. We're getting lesser and lesser mpg with every new car. Are gas companies keeping the advancement of the car at bay?

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Jan 22 at 2016 11:49 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 23:49:39 -0500

Computers are electronic devices which follow Moore's Law. Cars are mechanical devices that power and move things. They are simply not related. It would be like asking how come computers become so much smaller and more powerful but my furniture still weighs and works the the same as it did 100 years ago? It's just not related.

Cars have gotten a lot faster, safer, and way more comfortable. I'm not sure if you've ever driven in a car from the 1920s or 1950s, but I am pretty sure you would say we have come a long way (comparing it to the days of having huge computers in a room). Riding in an average car from 50 years ago is just a miserable experience.

I've noticed from several of your posts that you are eager to point a finger at gas companies for being evil or somehow suppressing some secret or advancement. The reality is that gas companies are international, they are from every continent and every country. Over time, many go out of business or fail to survive independently. Many, if not most energy companies that existed 40 years ago don't even exist any more. They have every incentive possible to try to our-compete their competition and advance technology. There is no reason for "them" to keep "cars at bay" or participate in any other massive conspiracy theories.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2016 12:15 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 00:15:32 -0500

I remember my first car, a 1977 Oldsmobile Toronado. It was gigantic, and got about 13 miles a gallon. Even at gas prices around a buck, that was expensive for a high school kid to run. I now have a 2014 Chevrolet Impala that comfortably seats five adults and gets over 30 miles a gallon on the highway, about 25-27 in the city in a car with over 300 hp.
Just ten years ago that would be unthinkable.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 23 at 2016 4:30 AM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 04:30:22 -0500

Technological advancement of computers and associated components are not regulated by the government. However, automobiles are not only regulated by the government, but the NTSB forces auto-makers to keep adding more and more mandated safety features. This is what happens when citizens think it is the governments job to save everyone's life. In order to "protect" you, they have to take away your freedom. This not only contributes to the lack of improvement from an efficiency standpoint, but it also contributes to the increased price. Every vehicle has to meet crash test requirements, have air bags, third brake light, etc... All of these safety features add weight and essentially increase the size of the vehicle. Compare a 69 Camaro with a 2014 Camaro... 1969 V8 Camaro weighed 3135 lbs, 2014 V8 Camaro weighed 3908 lbs. Yes, fuel efficiency has improved by a few MPG, but not at the same rate that everything else has improved since 1969. If people didn't rely on the government to mandate safety, we could have very fast, very light weight vehicles. Yes, there would be more fatalities, but who cares, I just wanna go fast!!!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jan 23 at 2016 8:38 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 08:38:52 -0500

Most Vehicles are loaded down with Technology Now. My Ancient 2004 Odyssey has a DVD Player built into it for Gods Sake. One of the more expensive repair part, replacement part you get for your vehicle these days is the Computer Board in it. I'm with you PO2 Morton Scisco, I want More, Cooler, Faster, Better and it doesn't seem to come fast enough to suit me but at 57 looking back. I'm pretty impressed with what the Auto Industry has done. Damn Cars have Blue Tooth, GPS and No Key Ignitions now. Last time I got a rental with the Electronic Key it just confused the hell out of me. LOL!

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Jan 23 at 2016 4:07 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 16:07:04 -0500

My car is pretty smart...I'd say auto's have advanced a lot too. I have blue tooth...that picks up my phone as soon as I get into the car...no wait...it picks it up 20 feet from the car....I can use the internet...GPS...all kinds of things...installed a DVD player for my grandson....my seats even have a butt massages of all things that I accidentally discovered...nope, I would say cars have come a really long ways....push a button or wave my foot and the trunk opens...push a button and the car starts and turns on the AC or heat...I could almost live in my vehicle...can't say the same for my phone. LOL

Response by Stephen Scott Wright made Jan 23 at 2016 6:35 PM

Stephen Scott Wright — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 18:35:03 -0500

I think you already gave the answer....to keep from changing the consumption of gasoline....or more precisely the revenues of the oil companies.

Response by Sgt Tammy Wallace made Jul 1 at 2016 2:32 PM

Sgt Tammy Wallace — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:32:59 -0400

at first read, I almost could see where your line of questioning is coming from...and then I think about the car I drive: i drive a Smartcar. and so I say, nope...close but no cigar...cars have come a loooooooooong way. :)

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Jul 1 at 2016 2:35 PM

SFC Pete Kain — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:35:38 -0400

Cars can't access online porn.....yet.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 1 at 2016 9:20 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 21:20:41 -0400

My brother bought a Mercury convertible off the showroom floor in 1957. I weighed two and a half tons, was 21 feet long, and had a 450 cu in Turnpike Cruiser engine. It could pass anything on the road but a gas station. It was pretty much junk yard bait before it reached 100,000 miles. Now, do you seriously believe that cars haven't advanced? BTW, for all their advancements, computers still deal in 1's and 0's. Some advancement, huh?

Response by SrA Alan Dirk Scott made Nov 29 at 2017 7:22 PM

SrA Alan Dirk Scott — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 19:22:30 -0500

During the Viet Nam war we changed encrypt cards that were punch cards on a computer the size of a small refrigerator. Times have changed