Andy Rooney on Gadgets In Our Cars

I have a lot of gadgets here in my office. I don't really like gadgets. I don't even like the word "gadget".

I read though where automakers have plans to install even more electronic gadgets in their cars soon. Do we really need more of them? I knew I'm out of the loop when I read recently that the Ford Motor Company is allowing smartphone apps on Android phones to link directly to Sync-equipped cars. I not only don't have an "Android equipped" phone in my car, I don't know what one is - wouldn't know what it was if I saw one.

I mean, do drivers really need to log onto the Internet while they speak to friends, while the kids watch a movie on a video screen in the backseat, and at the same time have the GPS help locate the best Italian restaurant in the area?

I have mixed feelings about the things that will help me from getting lost. Too often the best time I have is when I'm lost before I get where I'm going.

I can remember when Henry Ford said "You can have any color car you want as long as it's black". Now people have green cars, that means environmentally friendly cars - like hybrids, electric cars, cars with fuel cells and even cars that run on used cooking oil.
Of course, I don't want a car that smells like bacon grease or French fries.

I just want a car that I can drive to the store in and pick up a bottle of milk and a loaf of bread and go home.


Written by Andy Rooney

[mb91764]

me i still like to just drive,maybe listen to the radio.i'm not so stupid i have to have a gps to tell me how to get somewhere.a onstar to keep track of me.like they are we paying out of the butt for all this high-tech which is useless.all i need is a away to get from one place to the next.20 years ago i could buy a car for 10000 now i pay 20000 for a bunch of junk that last maybe 5 years.

[jackpenn]

There was a book written recently called: "The dumbest generation." pertaining to the young people of today growing up in a world with too many technical advantages to making life easier, to the point where young people don't know how to do anything, like getting ice out of an ice cube tray, adding or subtracting numbers in their head without a calculator, even knowing how to tie their shoes. I guess, eventually our car will drive itself, and we'll just sit in it.

[jackpenn]

There was a book written recently called: "The dumbest generation." pertaining to the young people of today growing up in a world with too many technical advantages to making life easier, to the point where young people don't know how to do anything, like getting ice out of an ice cube tray, adding or subtracting numbers in their head without a calculator, even knowing how to tie their shoes. I guess, eventually our car will drive itself, and we'll just sit in it.

[HRPuffinstuff]

I'm with Andy. And I saw those Terminator movies, where the computers take over and attack the humans.

[dewdog4]

I am all for making life more simple. I am sure the people on here who agree with Andy are age 50 and above. It's as simple as this. Don't use them if you don't like them. MORE GADGETS. BRING THEM ON!!! You are never to old to learn...

[mpaul12]

Jeez, I still have to roll my windows up and down, and unlock the doors with a key.

[aseadog714]

I was just wondering how far does Andy have to drive to get a "bottle" of milk?

[tsigili]

The more "stuff" they add to cars, the more likely that car is going to do something totally unpredictable and dangerous, while you are driving it. Just as in the Toyota runaways.......when computers start running cars, you have a significant increase in the potential for disaster.

Add to that, the additional cost of maintenance on all of that "stuff", and what you is a money pit.

Last, but not least, the more "stuff" they add to cars, the worse the drivers get! We currently have idiots behind the wheel, who think the gadgets in their cars, will keep them from having an accident, even when they drive irresponsibly. Obviously, that isn't working!!!

[NinthSt78]

I agree. Too many buttons.

[xmissile]

At 91, I hoping someone else is driving him to the store.

[consciousnes]

Andy is probably in better shape mentally at his age than half the youth on the road today.