Stupid Technology

onewhippedpuppy · 11-20-2009, 07:27 PM

Despite the crappy economy and layoffs, my company has changed all of their hand soap and paper towel dispensers to electronic automated units. At any given time, it seems that about 50% of these units are inop with their little red lights blinking. When they do work, I have to flap my arms until it dispenses enough napkin sized pieces of paper towel that I can actually dry my hands.

WTF?! Did someone determine that it was too hard to operate a lever to receive soap or a paper towel?! I don't ever recall a mechanical paper towel dispenser with dead batteries. And how does the math make sense on these stupid things? They have to cost double what the conventional ones do. Or is this another piece of "green" stupidity? Green people seem to be able to rationalize anything.

NineOhOne · 11-20-2009, 07:28 PM

I think the idea is "no touch". No touch = no bacteria spread.

masraum · 11-20-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Despite the crappy economy and layoffs, my company has changed all of their hand soap and paper towel dispensers to electronic automated units. At any given time, it seems that about 50% of these units are inop with their little red lights blinking. When they do work, I have to flap my arms until it dispenses enough napkin sized pieces of paper towel that I can actually dry my hands.

WTF?! Did someone determine that it was too hard to operate a lever to receive soap or a paper towel?! I don't ever recall a mechanical paper towel dispenser with dead batteries. And how does the math make sense on these stupid things? They have to cost double what the conventional ones do. Or is this another piece of "green" stupidity? Green people seem to be able to rationalize anything.

Electric soap dispensers? Wow, never seen those.

I have seen the electric paper towel dispensers. Usually they are in an airport. I do see a benefit to myself, I don't have to touch anything to get a towel. I also have to stand there to get 3 instead of just the 1.

I'd be willing to fight with those two to never again have to see one of those warm air blowing hand dryers that seemed to be all the rage in the 80s. Those things are useless.

onewhippedpuppy · 11-20-2009, 07:31 PM

No touch? What about when I beat the hell out of them?

masraum · 11-20-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NineOhOne

I think the idea is "no touch". No touch = no bacteria spread.

Yep, and in a workplace, that saves a ton of money. I think I've heard some astronomical figure about lost man hours due to sick leave. Of course, how much of that is actually due to a physical malady and how much is because "I'm sick of going to work" disease....

NineOhOne · 11-20-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

I'd be willing to fight with those two to never again have to see one of those warm air blowing hand dryers that seemed to be all the rage in the 80s. Those things are useless.

They have new "super blowers" in the Austin (TX) airport. I hit the button and WHHOOOOSSSHHHH! Damn thing nearly blew my skin off.

onewhippedpuppy · 11-20-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

Yep, and in a workplace, that saves a ton of money. I think I've heard some astronomical figure about lost man hours due to sick leave. Of course, how much of that is actually due to a physical malady and how much is because "I'm sick of going to work" disease....

And that would be totally valid.........if you never had to touch anything else at your office. Likely the average doorknob or keyboard has far more germs than the average soap dispenser. Remember, even the guys who don't wash their hands still have to open the door.

NineOhOne · 11-20-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

Of course, how much of that is actually due to a physical malady and how much is because "I'm sick of going to work" disease....

I tell my employees they have two "personal" and/or two "sick" days each week.

Saturday & Sunday.

NineOhOne · 11-20-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

And that would be totally valid.........if you never had to touch anything else at your office. Likely the average doorknob or keyboard has far more germs than the average soap dispenser. Remember, even the guys who don't wash their hands still have to open the door.

If the door opens out, I just shoulder it. If the door opens in, I use a piece of paper towel on the handle (or I just stand there until someone comes in).

Keyboard? Dragon Voice Naturally Speaking. Or latex gloves.

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by NineOhOne

They have new "super blowers" in the Austin (TX) airport. I hit the button and WHHOOOOSSSHHHH! Damn thing nearly blew my skin off.

+1 but at Tokyo Narita airport. It's like a water blade - WWHHOOSSHH the water is gone and your hands are dry. Very cool.

Yes the stupid sensor hand towel deals suck big time.

onewhippedpuppy · 11-20-2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NineOhOne

If the door opens out, I just shoulder it. If the door opens in, I use a piece of paper towel on the handle (or I just stand there until someone comes in).

Keyboard? Dragon Voice Naturally Speaking. Or latex gloves.

Antibodies are your friend.

M.D. Holloway · 11-20-2009, 07:55 PM

Blame that on your facilities guys and the distributor that sold them - they are not tuned proper. We have them at work and they perform perfectly. It is because of the mech geeks we have that push the facilities guys to the brink of postal.

NineOhOne · 11-20-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Antibodies are your friend.

I have none. Told them all to leave...

masraum · 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

And that would be totally valid.........if you never had to touch anything else at your office. Likely the average doorknob or keyboard has far more germs than the average soap dispenser. Remember, even the guys who don't wash their hands still have to open the door.

I wash my hands, get towels, turn the water off with the towels, open the door with the towels, and then through the towels out. I don't touch the door knobs of the restrooms even more than I don't touch the towel dispensers.

I have my own personal keyboard. No one uses it but me (they can't)

This is the keyboard

And even though the keys say "querty", the only two keys that match besides the numbers are "a" and "m".

If you try to type "asdf" on my keyboard you end up with "aoeu".

This is my keyboard layout.

Type on my keyboard, I dare you.

masraum · 11-20-2009, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Antibodies are your friend.

I'm pretty germ tollerant most times/places, except in the men's room. Too many nasty bastards that don't wash.

9dreizig · 11-20-2009, 09:02 PM

Mausraum, how long did it take you to "re-learn" to type with that layout ?

herr_oberst · 11-20-2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9dreizig

Mausraum, how long did it take you to "re-learn" to type with that layout ?

And why?

Geronimo '74 · 11-20-2009, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

I'd be willing to fight with those two to never again have to see one of those warm air blowing hand dryers that seemed to be all the rage in the 80s. Those things are useless.

Dyson Airblades in Brussles Airport. VERY effective!!!

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