Various and Assorted Thoughts and Observations Regarding the Just-Announced iPad

Why is it interesting? It seems like the logical way to go: simplify technology for the masses.

It isn't like the computer mouse added amazing new technical feets when it was released but now it is a very powerful accessory for many

There are actually cars being built now which will auto-brake in cruise control when you're behind a car going slower so you match their speed, and auto-breaking in emergencies when a collision is detected. Along with trying to nudge you away from leaving your current lane when you haven't signaled, the cars of the future are actually giving you less to do (though I don't think they would ever completely remove the manual control, but that's because it can be life or death).

Don Normal talks about this in his book "The Design of Future Things": http://www.jnd.org/dn.mss/the_design_of_future_1.html

ABS can be said to be a step in abstracting away braking. By stepping on the brakes you're not directly controlling the brakes, but telling them to slow you down as quickly and safely as possible using whatever method it deems best, and most people consider that a good thing. We're also starting to see more cars which auto break when they sense they're getting too close to things. While I don't see a time when we'll have cars without a break pedal I do see that the break pedal will be abstracted further and further away from directly controlling the breaks.