Topic: Tech you just love - the simple things

[Andy @ Allerton!]

What technology do you think 'Wowzers - love that..' - some of the 'taken for granted' simple stuff

One thing that's always fascinated me as a kid was Cats-eyes in the road - such a simple idea and such an amazingly effective solution to a problem.

The inventor of cat's eyes was Percy Shaw of Boothtown, Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. When the tram-lines were removed in the nearby suburb of Ambler Thorn, he realised that he had been using the polished strips of steel to navigate at night. The name "cat's eye" comes from Shaw's inspiration for the device: the eyeshine reflecting from the eyes of a cat. In 1934, he patented his invention (patents Nos. 436,290 and 457,536), and on 15 March 1935, founded Reflecting Roadstuds Limited in Halifax to manufacture the items. The name Catseye is their trademark. The reflective lens had been invented six years earlier for use in advertising signs by Richard Hollins Murray, an accountant from Herefordshire and, as Shaw acknowledged, they had contributed to his idea.

The blackouts of World War II (1939–1945) and the shuttered car headlights then in use demonstrated the value of Shaw's invention and helped popularise their mass use in the UK. After the war, they received firm backing from a Ministry of Transport committee led by James Callaghan and Sir Arthur Young. Eventually, their use spread all over the world.

In 2006, Catseye was voted one of Britain's top 10 design icons in the Great British Design Quest organised by the BBC and the Design Museum, a list which included Concorde, Mini, Supermarine Spitfire, K2 telephone box, World Wide Web and the AEC Routemaster bus.




Original Cats Eye



Double Ended Cats Eye


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%27s_eye_%28road%29

[The Gulleysucker]

The really clever thing about the design of those is they collect rainwater in that casting and then when a car goes over the 'eye' bit, it presses down and squirts the collected water over the reflectors to keep them clean.

They don't half weigh a bit though, I remember finding an old one by some road works as a kid and thinking I'd take it home as a trophy. That cast base is heavy duty.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

The really clever thing about the design of those is they collect rainwater in that casting and then when a car goes over the 'eye' bit, it presses down and squirts the collected water over the reflectors to keep them clean.

They don't half weigh a bit though, I remember finding an old one by some road works as a kid and thinking I'd take it home as a trophy. That cast base is heavy duty.

Really!? That's a great idea. Yeah, I can imagine they weigh quite a lot - they look pretty heavily embedded.

[rob1966]

The Fitch Inertia Barrier.

John Fitch was a WW2 Fighter pilot who flew P51 Mustangs and shot down an ME262 jet fighter. After the war, he became a successful racing driver.

He was paired with Pierre Levegh to drive the Mercedes in the 1955 Le Mans race. Levegh clipped an Austin-Healy driven by Lance Macklin on the main straight, flipped,hit the bank and the Mercedes burst into flames, with the wreckage careering into the Grandstand. The accident killed around 85 people. Fitch was so badly affected by it he vowed to come up with a safety device to prevent it happening again.

He was named on 15 patents, but the one above was used on the roads of the USA. Barrels filled with sand or water are placed near solid structures such as bridges or concrete dividers and absorb the impact. He got the idea from the sandbags he placed around his tent in WW2 to protect himself from being strafed during attacks by the Luftwaffe. Fitch tested all of his safety barriers himself by driving the cars used in the testing. His Inertia barrier system is believed to have saved over 17000 lives.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

The Fitch Inertia Barrier.

John Fitch was a WW2 Fighter pilot who flew P51 Mustangs and shot down an ME262 jet fighter. After the war, he became a successful racing driver.

He was paired with Pierre Levegh to drive the Mercedes in the 1955 Le Mans race. Levegh clipped an Austin-Healy driven by Lance Macklin on the main straight, flipped,hit the bank and the Mercedes burst into flames, with the wreckage careering into the Grandstand. The accident killed around 85 people. Fitch was so badly affected by it he vowed to come up with a safety device to prevent it happening again.

He was named on 15 patents, but the one above was used on the roads of the USA. Barrels filled with sand or water are placed near solid structures such as bridges or concrete dividers and absorb the impact. He got the idea from the sandbags he placed around his tent in WW2 to protect himself from being strafed during attacks by the Luftwaffe. Fitch tested all of his safety barriers himself by driving the cars used in the testing. His Inertia barrier system is believed to have saved over 17000 lives.

Nice. Cheers for putting that up mate.

[S]

When I reverse my car on a hill or slope, the wing mirrors automatically tilt to match the gradient. It would be infuriating if it were delayed or slightly offset, but it happens smoothly and is always accurate.

I'm aware this may not be new to some, but it was to me. There are much more flashy features on the car but this is undoubtedly one of my favourites.

[blert596]

When I reverse my car on a hill or slope, the wing mirrors automatically tilt to match the gradient. It would be infuriating if it were delayed or slightly offset, but it happens smoothly and is always accurate.

I'm aware this may not be new to some, but it was to me. There are much more flashy features on the car but this is undoubtedly one of my favourites.

I have the same sort of thing on mine but doesnt match the gradient. Basically when reverse is selected it tilts down to show the rear wheel/roadside alignment for parking, but can be turned off for normal reversing.

[TepidT2O]

What cars do this?

Witchcraft!

[liverbloke]

VAR

here it is in action

[Mark Walters]

What cars do this?

Witchcraft!

My 14 year old Lexus does it!

[rob1966]

What cars do this?

Witchcraft!

My mates Range Rovers (1998 Autobiography and 2002 Vogue) had it.

I've got a light reactive rear view mirror which darkens when a car behind has bright lights. I've also noticed when I reverse up the drive, the mirror goes lighter.

[Mark Walters]

My mates Range Rovers (1998 Autobiography and 2002 Vogue) had it.

I've got a light reactive rear view mirror which darkens when a car behind has bright lights. I've also noticed when I reverse up the drive, the mirror goes lighter.

That's just an anti-glare mirror isn't it? My Lexus also has that. Wing mirrors do it too.

My 2001 Clio would automatically turn on the rear windscreen wiper if it was raining and I put the car into reverse.

[TepidT2O]

That's just an anti-glare mirror isn't it? My Lexus also has that. Wing mirrors do it too.

My 2001 Clio would automatically turn on the rear windscreen wiper if it was raining and I put the car into reverse.

It’s an lcd that is connected to a phot sensitive resistor...  works quite well.  Mind you, if they crack it looks like a broken calculator screen... very messy.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

It’s an lcd that is connected to a phot sensitive resistor...  works quite well.  Mind you, if they crack it looks like a broken calculator screen... very messy.

If you turn it upside down can you get it to say

HELL.O BOOBLESS

?

[bradders1011]

Wireless headphones. I got a cheap set last year and it's just so nice not having to have my phone in an outer pocket and the wire rubbing on my chin or irritating me. Only issue was the 3 hour battery life, but my life was changed again when my phone came with a pair of Samsung Galaxy buds that last all day.

First world problems are still problems.