this post was submitted on 12 Sep 2024
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Asklemmy

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[–] InEnduringGrowStrong@sh.itjust.works 79 points 3 months ago (6 children)

This toaster:

Might as well link the Technology Connections video already.

Yes, it's an 18 minutes video on a 1950s toaster, you can thank me later.

[–] EveryMuffinIsNowEncrypted@lemmy.blahaj.zone 39 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

It's Technology Connections.

It's always worth it. Because

 

✨ E N G I N E E R I N G

 

W I T H  S A S S ✨

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[–] Extrasvhx9he 12 points 3 months ago

Same person made me appreciate my can opener

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[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 53 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Scissors. Their value is noticed most when you cannot find them.

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[–] Corno@lemm.ee 51 points 3 months ago (5 children)
[–] tetris11@lemmy.ml 12 points 3 months ago

They just taste so damn good

[–] Xavienth@lemmygrad.ml 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

In concept perhaps, but idk if I would consider vaccines actually low tech, especially mRNA

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[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 43 points 3 months ago (4 children)

Knives.

About as low tech as it gets, even for modern knives that are pretty high tech in how they're made.

But it's entirely possible for a person to make a knife with nothing but tools they can make by hand, with no need for anything other than rocks as tools. I've done it, and it isn't like I'm some kind of super genius.

You can make slightly more high tech tools if you want, and make metal knives. The caveat to that is that you have to know how to identify sources for the metal in the first place, unlike stone tools where you can figure it out by banging rocks together until you find some that make sharp edges. But making an oven that can turn out low-grade materials is realistic for a single person to do.

But a knife, in its essence is just an inclined plane done to a very fine degree. Doesn't get any more low tech than that. Mind you, there's plenty of complexity involved in all of the basic machines like inclined planes, but that's more about understanding them than using them or making them.

Knives are mankind's most important tool. They were among our first tools, and it can be argued that they were our first manufactured tools. And we still use them regularly. Some of us use them every day, multiple times a day.

That's a lasting technology in every degree of refinement.

[–] dharmacurious@slrpnk.net 19 points 3 months ago

Honestly, kind of mind blowing even thinking of them as a technology, they're so ubiquitous. I use a knife a minimum of 10 times a day, and that's just in the kitchen, not including opening mail, packages, small medical stuff, and a ton more uses. Holy shit, where would we be without those inclined edges?

Awesome comment to read at 430 in the morning. Thank you

[–] weeeeum@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

Also knives and woodworking. Blades are what made the great Japanese temples. Lots of sharp steel and a dream. It is amazing what Japanese blacksmiths can do with steel, and the excellent performance they can achieve with them.

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[–] tja@sh.itjust.works 37 points 3 months ago
[–] pdxfed@lemmy.world 31 points 3 months ago
[–] Extrasvhx9he 29 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (4 children)

Rope or really any cordage. Can't begin to tell you how handy learning 7-10ish knots has come, plus lashings

[–] sylver_dragon@lemmy.world 13 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I was always terrible with knots growing up. My father spent far too much time trying to teach me a basic trucker's hitch and sadly never got to see me really "get it". Then, when my own son was in Cub Scouts and supposed to learn some basic knots, something just clicked in my mind and I took an interest. The bowline was the gateway knot for me and learning that led me to finally apply myself to the trucker's hitch. Just such a useful pair for tying up a load. I can understand why my father really wanted me to learn it.

Now, I keep a length of paracord on my desk and will fiddle with it, practicing knots whenever I'm doing something that leaves my hands free. And ya, having a basic set of knots down is just damned handy.

[–] Extrasvhx9he 9 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Thats a great story it’s amazing how sometimes things just resurface and click after years. I'm genuinely happy that I'm not the only one that fiddles around with paracord. I get a lot of looks from family because of it, haha. Think it was either the sheet bend or square knot that got me into this.

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[–] koncertejo@lemmy.ml 24 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Do vinyl records count? I really like that they make beautiful noise from a simple electromechanical process.

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[–] janus2@lemmy.zip 24 points 3 months ago (1 children)

INDOOR PLUMBING

I live in an apartment complex. The thought of having to share an outhouse (more than 1 if lucky) with hundreds of strangers TERRIFIES ME. And/or use chamberpots. FUCK NO

A BLESSED ETERNAL AFTERLIFE OF BLISS FOR ALL HUMANS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO INDOOR PLUMBING SCIENCE 😩

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[–] DmMacniel@feddit.org 23 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Rice cookers. It's super low tech but works great to cook perfect rice.

[–] Raffster@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago (9 children)

I can do that with a pot just fine;)

[–] Nikls94@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

That is not very Asian of you to write.

[–] Raffster@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago

I'm not very asian.

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[–] tiefling@lemmy.blahaj.zone 21 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Manual can openers are better than electric can openers

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[–] s_s@lemm.ee 21 points 3 months ago (1 children)

A fountain pen is just a controlled leak

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[–] NaevaTheRat@vegantheoryclub.org 20 points 3 months ago (5 children)

Sharpening stones.

you need an edge so many times in your life. When you're using scissors, slicing veggies, pruning trees, harvesting mushrooms, posting online, mowing grass, carving wood, cutting roots, trimming nails, scraping stoves/ovens, shaving, digging, trimming, pealing whatever.

There are so many dumb fancy arse awful tools that butcher edges and work in one specific case. No! For millenia people have been grinding edges, it is not difficult to learn it just takes practice.

Modern manufacturing means we can enjoy extremely consistent stones in well characterised grades. Go use some, and enjoy how much less effort life requires when everything that cuts, cuts easily.

[–] LBarbarian@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago

On that topic, if you are in a squeeze and don't have a sharpening stone in the kitchen, you can use the bottom rim of a ceramic mug to sharpen a kitchen knife

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[–] rednalsi@lemmings.world 17 points 3 months ago (8 children)
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[–] beeng@discuss.tchncs.de 17 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

S-trap / P-trap (Eg in sinks and toilets)

And zip ties 👍

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 8 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (3 children)

Pretty much anything with an interplay of water and air pressure fascinates me. Someone else mentioned siphons. I'll mention diving bells and bongs.

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[–] Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 16 points 3 months ago

Waterwheels. Thousands of years old but still an essential part of our energy system.

[–] jeffhykin@lemm.ee 15 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Partially buried housing (ground cooling effect)

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[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 14 points 3 months ago (4 children)

Automatic (mechanical) wristwatches.

I love the idea of a truly symbiotic relationship between a thoughtfully and carefully designed mechanism and a human. I walk around and live my life, and by doing so, I give it the kinetic energy it needs to keep its mainspring wound, and in return it tells me what time it is. Always. Without fail. I just have to tweak the time if it starts to get too far off, but that’s barely even an imposition. After a good long while, it’s prudent to have them serviced, but if you’re not observing any problems, it’s generally perfectly fine, and will keep ticking along as long as you wear it regularly.

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[–] nafzib@lemmy.world 14 points 3 months ago
[–] olafurp@lemmy.world 14 points 3 months ago

String/rope. With a couple of knots, loops and tension you can make a lot of things with it.

[–] NKBTN@feddit.uk 12 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Furniture generally, beds specifically

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[–] VinesNFluff@pawb.social 12 points 3 months ago (6 children)

Consider the humble pillow.

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[–] ilhamagh@lemmy.world 12 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Wood working ? Whoever craftsman who first makes a stringed-instrument, compared to a piano an acoustic guitar is a relatively simple instrument and it gives me endless joy even without company or electricity.

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[–] AlphaOmega@lemmy.world 11 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I bought a can opener years back that doesn't cut the can, instead it separates the lid from the can with no sharp edges. It's dumb but I love it.

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[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 10 points 3 months ago
[–] Gigasser@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago

The anvil, can make a lot of stuff with it. You can even use it to make fire, striking a piece of iron until it's hot enough to light a forge or small fire. Older copies of the Machinery's handbook(the machinist's Bible) have a few things on blacksmithing.

[–] Mycatiskai@lemmy.ca 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Axes, I have four and I will get another next year.

I have a hatchet for small tasks, a midsized axe for cutting small trees down and chopping, a Pulaski for landscaping/ digging tasks and I have a splitting axe/maul for splitting rounds.

There is something incredibly rewarding and fun about swinging an axe.

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[–] fubarx@lemmy.ml 9 points 3 months ago

Tweezers.

When you realize how many wars were averted because of them.

[–] thelsim@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Maps and compass. I like the reliability of finding my way no matter where I am. Plus it’s fun!
Especially the trick of using two landmarks to pinpoint my location on a map makes me feel like an old-fashioned navigator :)

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[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 9 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Lathes. You spin a thing and cut it, which sounds unimpressive, but from there you can bootstrap to pretty much all modern technology.

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[–] itsathursday@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago (7 children)

Submerged deep sea internet cables that connect the continents.

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[–] Tiltinyall@beehaw.org 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Cars and trucks made before the 2010's. Wanna fix a new model car? I don't have the diagnostic setup so that's a no for me. Oh, and new key fobs make me really mad.

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[–] weeeeum@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Hand tool woodworking. It's amazing what you can make without a single electron. Its also amazing to feel the tools, the resistance and subtle vibrations as you use them. Like an extension of your own body. I love chiseling, especially large mortises. Hearing that sharp, deep thud, and seeing it sink in as it bites into the wood is so satisfying. Especially when using metal hammers, they are so responsive.

I love sawing, especially when relaxed and working at a slow pace, seeing all the sawdust fly out with each stroke. Sawing isn't fun when working on difficult pieces of wood, when working in a relaxed manner with softwood, the hoarse sounds of the saw starts to sound like purring and it begins to cut exceptionally well.

I love the finish of handplanes, so smooth it becomes water resistant.

Overall very spiritual and relaxing (as relaxing as you allow it to be at least)

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[–] ff0000@lemmy.ml 6 points 3 months ago
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