Bill Conrad's Blog - Posts Tagged "old-technology"
Legacy Writing Junk
Long before computers, people were building things with intelligence. Take the simple toilet. It sits patiently until a flush, then automatically turns on a valve and turns it off when the tank is full.
Today, we have devices with mechanical, electrical, and computer intelligence ranging from this simple toilet valve to an aircraft carrier loaded with planes, computers, missiles, radars, atomic reactors, satellite navigation, and even devices that toast bread to perfection.
Along this path to greatness, some less-than-perfect systems were invented, and despite better alternatives, these appalling technologies are still widely embraced. The one I dislike the most is called ladder logic, but it requires a lengthy explanation.
In the 20s, engineers began using electricity to control machines, including switches, motors, lights, and relays. Elaborate systems were developed using these basic building blocks; an elevator that services multiple floors is one example.
Long before computers, elevator control panels had 20+ relays that took information from the floor buttons and controlled the motors. But how was this complex system documented? Enter the ladder diagram.
One or more vertical lines on the left/right side of the page represent system power. Connecting these two vertical lines are horizontal lies with symbols representing motors, switches, lights, and relays. These make up the ladder’s rungs and show how the components logically interact.
Ladder diagrams are still the default for industrial products, but what if we want a more complex system? Along came the computer, which could apply far more logic than a bulky relay.
We call such computers Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), which use the same technology as in a microwave oven, dishwasher, or washing machine. But there was a problem. What about all those industrial technicians who understand ladder diagrams? They cannot read a computer language like BASIC. The solution was Ladder Logic, which uses the same visual format as a ladder diagram with additional computer logic symbols.
What’s the problem? This visual programming language quickly breaks down when a program gets complex. For example, controlling an everyday device like a printer with ladder logic would require hundreds of rungs. The visual result is challenging, even for the most experienced ladder logic programmer.
When I first saw ladder logic, I thought, “Why not use a flow chart or a standard computer language like C, Python, or JavaScript?” “It is not industry standard.” The more I looked, the more apparent it was that the PLC developers were using all means available to maintain a very outdated concept.
Despite my meager protests, technicians will use ladder logic for the next thousand years. Why am I bringing this up? This series of articles is supposed to be about writing and stuff. Let’s discuss all the legacy junk in writing, books, and publishing.
How about 3x5 cards? Where did those dimensions come from? An 8.5”x11” page? 8.5 inches? Not 9 or 8? Legal sized? Now, I sort of understand Tabloid (11”x17”) because it is two 8.5”x11” pages. A0-A10 paper sizes use an aspect ratio based on the square root of two? Who came up with that? Pythagorean? Here are the standard book sizes:
General Nonfiction, YA Dystopian, Fantasy, Sci-Fi: 5.5” x 8.5”
Thrillers/Mysteries, General Self-Help, Memoir: 5.25” x 8”
Inspirational/Spiritual: 5” x 8”
YA General Fiction: 5” x 7”
General Fiction: 6” x 9”
Why so many sizes? Tradition? Federal law? The secret paper cartel? Wait a minute. Printers use A4 or 8.5”x11”. Why not make all books one of those two sizes? Imagine how much money we could save. Imagine how nice it would be to have a book shelf loaded with identically sized books.
The Oxford comma. What the heck is that? I before E except after C. Did we base our entire spelling system on a nursery rhyme? Every sentence needs a subject and a verb. Do the police arrest writers when the subject is missing? Drive on the parkway and park on the driveway. I give up.
A sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a period. Did the cave dwellers use capital letters in their drawings a million years ago? Proper nouns require a capital letter. Who decides what is correct? The words its, and it’s are two words with different meanings. I don’t know, they look the same.
A character requires motivation. I do stupid things without reason, permission, motivation, or logic all day. In fact, I am good at it. The plot better have conflict. Can’t we just get along? A good story has a twist. Isn’t life confusing enough without writers intentionally confusing readers? Don’t make your main character arrogant. Every day, I run into arrogant people. Why can’t I write about them? Show the emotion, don’t tell the reader. So, “I’m sad” is invalid. Exactly.
Roman numerals? 1988 = MCMLXXXVIII Really? How about alternate spellings? Color, colour. Reads right to me. Disused words that are still in the dictionary? Groak – To watch someone silently as they eat. Elflock – If you have wavy hair and wake up tangled. Lunting – Go for a walk and smoke a pipe. Lethophobia – Fear of oblivion. Do dictionary editor’s keyboards not have a delete key?
Double spaces after the period? That’s a lot of wasted paper. Double-spaced documents? Even more wasted paper. How about the keyboard keys that never get used: Print screen, scroll lock, pause, and insert? Is there no end to legacy junk?
What font should I use? Arial, New Times Roman, Bookman, Helvetica, Baskerville, Times (Shouldn’t this be Old Times?), Akzidenz Grotesk (That is a thing?), Gotham (Batman’s font), Didot, Futura (Philip J. Fry’s font), Sans, Comic Sans (Superman’s font), Rockwell Monotype, Sans-Serif (If Smurfs had a font, this would be it), or Franklin Gothic. Should the font be bold, italicized, underlined, double-underlined, subscript, superscript, strike-through, double-strike-through, small, large, colored, transparent, hidden, tilted, small caps, or all capitalized?
Here is what it all boils down to. I recently emailed a friend, “The firesfighters are earning their pay this week.” Did you understand that sentence? Of course, but your eagle eyes identified a minor mistake. I made an innocent typo with the word firefighters. I corrected it, and that was it.
But… Did I have to fix the error? The original text was excellent. But no, the chaotic English rules are clear. Alternate spellings are not allowed. Correcting this mistake is a very high priority. Yeah, I will get right on it. I might even include an Oxford comma, change the font to blue, double-underlined, bold Akzidenz Grotesk, and publish it in a 5.25” x 8” book while lunting and thinking about lethophobia.
You’re the best -Bill
January 29, 2025
Today, we have devices with mechanical, electrical, and computer intelligence ranging from this simple toilet valve to an aircraft carrier loaded with planes, computers, missiles, radars, atomic reactors, satellite navigation, and even devices that toast bread to perfection.
Along this path to greatness, some less-than-perfect systems were invented, and despite better alternatives, these appalling technologies are still widely embraced. The one I dislike the most is called ladder logic, but it requires a lengthy explanation.
In the 20s, engineers began using electricity to control machines, including switches, motors, lights, and relays. Elaborate systems were developed using these basic building blocks; an elevator that services multiple floors is one example.
Long before computers, elevator control panels had 20+ relays that took information from the floor buttons and controlled the motors. But how was this complex system documented? Enter the ladder diagram.
One or more vertical lines on the left/right side of the page represent system power. Connecting these two vertical lines are horizontal lies with symbols representing motors, switches, lights, and relays. These make up the ladder’s rungs and show how the components logically interact.
Ladder diagrams are still the default for industrial products, but what if we want a more complex system? Along came the computer, which could apply far more logic than a bulky relay.
We call such computers Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), which use the same technology as in a microwave oven, dishwasher, or washing machine. But there was a problem. What about all those industrial technicians who understand ladder diagrams? They cannot read a computer language like BASIC. The solution was Ladder Logic, which uses the same visual format as a ladder diagram with additional computer logic symbols.
What’s the problem? This visual programming language quickly breaks down when a program gets complex. For example, controlling an everyday device like a printer with ladder logic would require hundreds of rungs. The visual result is challenging, even for the most experienced ladder logic programmer.
When I first saw ladder logic, I thought, “Why not use a flow chart or a standard computer language like C, Python, or JavaScript?” “It is not industry standard.” The more I looked, the more apparent it was that the PLC developers were using all means available to maintain a very outdated concept.
Despite my meager protests, technicians will use ladder logic for the next thousand years. Why am I bringing this up? This series of articles is supposed to be about writing and stuff. Let’s discuss all the legacy junk in writing, books, and publishing.
How about 3x5 cards? Where did those dimensions come from? An 8.5”x11” page? 8.5 inches? Not 9 or 8? Legal sized? Now, I sort of understand Tabloid (11”x17”) because it is two 8.5”x11” pages. A0-A10 paper sizes use an aspect ratio based on the square root of two? Who came up with that? Pythagorean? Here are the standard book sizes:
General Nonfiction, YA Dystopian, Fantasy, Sci-Fi: 5.5” x 8.5”
Thrillers/Mysteries, General Self-Help, Memoir: 5.25” x 8”
Inspirational/Spiritual: 5” x 8”
YA General Fiction: 5” x 7”
General Fiction: 6” x 9”
Why so many sizes? Tradition? Federal law? The secret paper cartel? Wait a minute. Printers use A4 or 8.5”x11”. Why not make all books one of those two sizes? Imagine how much money we could save. Imagine how nice it would be to have a book shelf loaded with identically sized books.
The Oxford comma. What the heck is that? I before E except after C. Did we base our entire spelling system on a nursery rhyme? Every sentence needs a subject and a verb. Do the police arrest writers when the subject is missing? Drive on the parkway and park on the driveway. I give up.
A sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a period. Did the cave dwellers use capital letters in their drawings a million years ago? Proper nouns require a capital letter. Who decides what is correct? The words its, and it’s are two words with different meanings. I don’t know, they look the same.
A character requires motivation. I do stupid things without reason, permission, motivation, or logic all day. In fact, I am good at it. The plot better have conflict. Can’t we just get along? A good story has a twist. Isn’t life confusing enough without writers intentionally confusing readers? Don’t make your main character arrogant. Every day, I run into arrogant people. Why can’t I write about them? Show the emotion, don’t tell the reader. So, “I’m sad” is invalid. Exactly.
Roman numerals? 1988 = MCMLXXXVIII Really? How about alternate spellings? Color, colour. Reads right to me. Disused words that are still in the dictionary? Groak – To watch someone silently as they eat. Elflock – If you have wavy hair and wake up tangled. Lunting – Go for a walk and smoke a pipe. Lethophobia – Fear of oblivion. Do dictionary editor’s keyboards not have a delete key?
Double spaces after the period? That’s a lot of wasted paper. Double-spaced documents? Even more wasted paper. How about the keyboard keys that never get used: Print screen, scroll lock, pause, and insert? Is there no end to legacy junk?
What font should I use? Arial, New Times Roman, Bookman, Helvetica, Baskerville, Times (Shouldn’t this be Old Times?), Akzidenz Grotesk (That is a thing?), Gotham (Batman’s font), Didot, Futura (Philip J. Fry’s font), Sans, Comic Sans (Superman’s font), Rockwell Monotype, Sans-Serif (If Smurfs had a font, this would be it), or Franklin Gothic. Should the font be bold, italicized, underlined, double-underlined, subscript, superscript, strike-through, double-strike-through, small, large, colored, transparent, hidden, tilted, small caps, or all capitalized?
Here is what it all boils down to. I recently emailed a friend, “The firesfighters are earning their pay this week.” Did you understand that sentence? Of course, but your eagle eyes identified a minor mistake. I made an innocent typo with the word firefighters. I corrected it, and that was it.
But… Did I have to fix the error? The original text was excellent. But no, the chaotic English rules are clear. Alternate spellings are not allowed. Correcting this mistake is a very high priority. Yeah, I will get right on it. I might even include an Oxford comma, change the font to blue, double-underlined, bold Akzidenz Grotesk, and publish it in a 5.25” x 8” book while lunting and thinking about lethophobia.
You’re the best -Bill
January 29, 2025
