By Peter Cochrane, 23 February 2009 14:48
COMMENT
Compiled in my San Bruno, California, hotel room. Dispatched the next day from San Francisco Airport via a commercial wi-fi service.
So there you are, having flown across the Atlantic. You feel a little jaded. You unpack your kit, get a coffee, read all the backed-up emails, read the newspaper, and then you figure it would be relaxing to watch the news before getting some sleep. What could be easier?
For decades it has been computers that have confounded people. Radio and TV haven't been a big deal. Well not anymore! Some clown has decided to integrate everything into my hotel TV set. So I am offered analogue TV, digital TV, cable, satellite, video on demand, internet access and IPTV - all on one box that looks innocent enough.
There it sits, all big and black - an old cathode ray tube enclosure weighing in at some 15kg or so.
Don't be deceived, this sucker is evil!
I pick up the controller, which has more buttons than the cockpit of an A370 and 777 combined, and find myself at the menu page. So far so good! One click later and I think I'm on my way to a TV picture when I suddenly find myself in an IPTV cul-de-sac. No matter what I do I go round in a series of infinite loops.
Finally the screen advises that I should use the keyboard to navigate. But there is no keyboard in the room, and a call to reception advises me that keyboards for the TV aren't available.
Hey, I'm an engineer, I can fix or get around anything - right? Wrong!
After a full, and very frustrating hour of trying every option possible, I decide to invoke the ultimate sanction - I pull the power and reboot. But - darn it - this thing has memory and returns me to the closed-loop nightmare I just pulled the plug on.
This is the last straw. I go to my laptop and watch the news from there. After all, what could be easier?
Comments
There are 8 comments. Join the discussion
1. Mark Hosey
What could be easier?
You get on the phone again, demand (politely) a new TV or room with working TV and threaten (politely) to withhold payment of the bill if your demands are not met in full and within a reasonable amount of time.
Please learn to complain (firmly and politely).
If you don't complain things won't change.
2. anonymous
Some hotels like City Inn in Bristol have iMacs as the free entertainment system. Seems that it's the budget hotels that have the best systems. The iMAC has a remote control with one button.
3. Simon Allen
Peter, this is one of your funniest blogs ever! I really liked the image of ease of use - so true.
Don't forget the app in the TV where you can view your bill and see just how much you are being ripped off in full colour from the comfort of the bed!!
4. Peter Cochrane
Mark = I was looking for 'one throat to choke' at the time - but took the least line of resistance. I don't complain well when I'm exhausted! Peter
5. Peter Cochrane
Anonymous Ipswich = Now that sounds like heaven! Peter
6. Peter Cochrane
Simon = Believe me the irony of the situation didn't escape me. Pleased you enjoyed! Peter
7. Nick Cole
It is a symptom of trying to make something do everything. Massive over-complication results in disaster and more constraints than would otherwise be the case.
Too few designers have any real experience and don't think things through with any understanding of reality. Do it because it can be done, instead of if it needs or should be done!
8. Peter Cochrane
Nick = Spot on! They should eat their own dog food too! Peter