Monday, May 13, 2002

BMW 7-series: Technical "progress"

Dazed by a Technical Knockout. The BMW 745i is a remarkable car with so many genuine technical advancements that it is surely the world’s most advanced sedan. By James G. Cobb. [New York Times: Technology]

I saw one of these on the road the other day, and was impressed at how different it looked. ( It certainly is a BMW, but their high-end models haven’t changed much at all in years.) Reading this article, though, suggests that the aesthetic changes are nothing compared with the interior.

270 voice-activated commands? A complex menu-driven interface for controlling everything from the radio to the climate? An instruction manual for valets?

What were they thinking?

Arthur C. Clarke once said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” BMW forgot that true technical progress is when you can hide the complexity from the end user.

1 comment:

  1. The 7 isn't too bad, but the new 5 Series is a bloody joke ! Fire Chris Bangle !!