An IT Question: Disappearing Car Doors and the Theory of Negativity

Liz Strauss has called me an SOB.  I actually find that very flattering since it doesn't mean what it usually means (which according to Wikipedia is actually quite a few things).  Anyway because of this I try to faithfully check out her weekly listing of new SOBs she's found.  This week iDunzo.com was one and I was floored by the post that happened to be the most current one.  It seems a company called JaTech has developed a disappearing car door - that's right it disappears.  Check out the video.

When I Googled this I was even more floored by the reactions to this new technology.  Most of them were overwhelmingly positive expressing the same amazement that I felt.  However, I was caught off guard by the reaction of some who couldn't help but dwell on problems and issues.

Some examples:

• "It's a cute novelty for people with too much money on their hands, I suppose. I have my doubt about how safe it is in an accident: how would you open it when the electrics are broken? Or when any of the parts of the door is bent and won't fold in any more?
  
  I'm also not convinced this will last very long before breaking down." by Bug Muldoon in a comment on Snopes.com
• "It's not new. [emphasis added]Ford had this on a model car a while back.. it was on a model from 84 I think. However, there were some safety issues with the attempt to make the door light enough to be moved with the hydraulics. But now the less, and awesome concept."  -comment by Tetherwind on Broadbandreports.com
• "Truly this is a wonderful and interesting concept! Now, show me how one of these JaTech disappearing door equipped vehicles fairs out when broadsided by 5,500+ lb SUV. Or after barrel rolling several times into a ditch. I see no evidence of any reinforced door guard beams, additional occupant containment measures, anti-intrusion protection sills or supplemental inflatable restraints. Not to mention how poor this idea is in inclement weather. If you can show me one of these vehicles that meets or surpasses an industry standardized 5 star side impact crash test, then we'll talk. I doubt if this wil ever become marketable on anything more than showcars until such concerns are addressed. For now I'll stick with my very rigidly designed (albeit antiquated) hinged and sliding doors on my minivans and cars. Closed Opened" - comment by NC2K on StumbleUpon.com
• "Seems like an excellent idea, but what does it do for the rigidity of the chassis?" - comment by Ruggerroy on StumbleUpon.com

As I mentioned most of the comments were positive either expressing amazement or pointing out how this could be beneficial for people with handicaps or making getting in and out of tight parking spots easier.  I'm not trying to pick a fight with any of these commenters and agree that what they say is probably true.  I also agree that heatlthy skepticism is integral to the development process.  However, if we start out only focusing on the problems we will never move forward.

What I'm getting to in my long-winded fashion is that some people can't seem to resist pointing out problems when presented with new concepts.  Rather than asking how we can use this, their first impulse is to explain why it won't work or it was tried before and failed (see Tetherwind's comments).

Since we are in the technology business and must often present new technologies and concepts my question is -

"How do you handle situations where people only see the negative side of a new technology?  How do you move the conversation on to what is possible or how can we make this work rather than why it isn't possible or why it won't work?"

"Help" photo by Cobber99

Got a question you'd like me to post for future discussion?  Email it to me using the "Email Mike" link in the left hand column.

If this topic was of interest, you might also like the other posts in the IT Question category.

Comments

[Matthew Moran]

Mike,

Personally, I didn't like the English accent of the narrator and the women seemed too stuffy - all in pant suits. Also, the intro was too long, just show me the door.

And what's with the Coca Cola product placement - did they pay for that - does coke own stock in the doors?

Or maybe they were attacking coke - showing them in a subservient brand position - beneath the car - how rude!!

It's all part of a conspiracy...

Okay, complaints out of the way...

As one who focuses these days on the often Maverick app - I get this "find the negative" response all the time. In some ways, I understand it.

I am often building small applets or tools that sit on top of company technology. For the technology manager, this means they must support something that is not out of the box and we have to track those moving parts when there are infrastructure changes.

My case is that the only reason to bring me in is that there is a compelling business benefit for what I do - that makes the extra management, documentation, and support worth it. If not, believe me, I should not be there.

The difference between garden variety negativity and constructive questioning and analysis of something new or any situation, is revealed in how they frame such questions.

For instance, in the question of the door, do they recognize the potential benefit but then ask, "I would be interested to see how these doors fare in crash tests or what other safety issues or concerns it solves or creates."

I have found that many of the more highly analytical technologist - those with an introverted bent - seem to perceive more negative in most situations than positive. That is a personal experience generalization - I'm not saying that about you (the person reading this, not you Mike). Of course, if that comment really bothers you, maybe I am saying about you. ;-)

Good question Mike... except that it ... never mind.

[Mike]

Matt,

I guess it is all whether you view things as a problem or an opportunity [insert picture of Coca-Cola here]

Mike

[il parra]

Hello! Pleased to meet you! Your blog is very interesting. If you wish, come and visit me. Ciao. g

[Mike]

Il Parra

Thank you and best wishes.

Mike

[Aerich S.]

Talk about being negative... I found YOUR site while googling disappearing car door w/ snopes! There are so many issues with the advertisement, I'm STILL not sure that it's NOT an urban legend.

As to your comments on the negativity towards such technologies, I had to come to the conclusion that you're an idealist. I am a technical analyst. When I see the negative comments on a particular technology, I move to one of two camps. Either I view the (as-yet-not-researched-by-me) technology as "science fiction," due to its other-worldliness (meaning that at first blush, it doesn't seem truly technically feasible) or, more likely, I chase down the particular tech specs to see whether the original commenter was blowing smoke and making completely unconfirmed opinions/accusations (which some of them do) based on emotional responses to ads.

Again, this is a perspective issue. You looked at the comments (that you posted) as being negative. I looked at them as being challenges. How do you get beyond the babble? Challenge the challengers to prove that they weren't blowing their own smoke. Then see if THEY can offer solutions or ideas.

NB: I still think the video is a joke. There are way, way too many questions, still, like where all the door mass is going and if they got rid of the door mass, then how are they going to pass American, European, and Asian safety regulations? So, I'm going back to Google and keep researching to find more specs or supposed specs on the door.

--Aerich

[Michael Schaffner]

Aerich,

Thanks for commenting.

What I'm trying to focus on is more of an issue of attitude. I believe that we are more successful if we look for ways that we can use a technology rather than for ways it won't work. As I said "agree that what they say is probably true. I also agree that heatlthy skepticism is integral to the development process. However, if we start out only focusing on the problems we will never move forward." Sometimes this is a subtle distinction but an important one. If that makes me an idealist I plead guilty.

Mike

p.s. I'd love to hear the results of your research into how real this is. If it is fake someone has done a fantastic job doing it.

[Ken Mitchell]

Personally, I think people are too obsessed with safety; we're all going to die anyway, and what's the point of living long, miserable lives?

Structural integrity? The video doesn't show the design of the door, but it would be easy to make the stringers of the door lap up against the frame in an impact, giving the door far MORE strength than a standard door would have. And since the weight of the door doesn't have to be supported by a couple of hinges, there would be mo reason to make the door a little heavier and stiffer than the tin-foil things we have today. Of course, every ounce of weight will work against the new CAFE standards, but what are an annual 4K excess traffic deaths compared to saving a whopping 5% of our fuel bill?

I'm REALLY INTRIGUED by the "disappearing" car doors; I'm ready to order the retrofits to my mother-in-law's Cadillac right now, except they'd probably cost more than a new car would.

The Coke can? It's a generic measuring stick. I'll put dollars to donuts that the cameraman drinks Coke rather than Pepsi. (A Guinness bottle wouldn't have fit!)

[Michael Schaffner]

Ken,

Thanks for the comment. Your comment is a great example of what I'm asking about. You have some questions and some skepticism but still have that attitude of "hey - we can make this work" rather than "let me tell you why this will never work". That's the basis of my question. How do we get people to shift their perspective and attitude more towards figuring out how to make things work than proclaiming they won't.

Mike

[Tom Coates]

Like a previous commentator, I found your site while doing a search for the disappearing car door and snopes.

You've hit an important point. Many people, maybe most, don't even know what to say when presented with a new idea. They usually attempt to evaluate it on the spot. That's unnecessary, not likely to be done well, and reduces the likelihood that they will get many more ideas. It seems self-destructive. (Why I think they do this appears below.) The correct response is one that I got from Dave Benson, owner of Small Wonder Laboratories, a producer of innovative amateur radio equipment kits, when I sent him an idea for something I hoped he would offer so I could buy it because I didn't want to attempt it from scratch. Dave said only, "Interesting! Thanks very much!"

I think so many people respond with a poorly-thought-out catalog of negatives because most of the new ideas they encounter are offered for sale as new products or services. Sales resistance has been dissected by Jerry Vass and many other authors. Most people have few new ideas of their own and when they notice one it usually requires commitment. So we're programmed to reject innovation. We say "I'm not buying that."

What all of us should be doing with a new idea is (1) suspending judgement, (2) making an effort to remember it for future use (3) attempting to quickly estimate whether the obvious problems are solvable or expected to be, or (3a) even worth solving to get the benefit of the new idea. As I said, very few people can do (3) and (3a) accurately in real time.

Common difficulties with new ideas are evident in Amazon.com book reviews. The negative reviews often fasten on a minor flaw and ignore the remainder of the book, or downgrade the book because it's different from another book. I study negative reviews because occasionally a negative review will bring up an inconvenient fact that damages the major premise of the book.

The disappearing car door website is interesting because none of the links would work, at least for me, which looks like a hoax. The video could represent a represent a real car idea that never made it all the way to market. Hence my pursuit of snopes.com. Nonetheless, the use you made of the site was valuable -- a real teachable moment. Your idea would be a good module for a class in anything from etiquette to leadership.

As we work through each day's decisions, are we already blessed with enough alternatives? Shouldn't we seek out more new ideas? After all, how do we improve our world except through new ideas?

[Mike]

Tom,

Glad you stopped by and commented. I like you idea of pausing before responding to a new concept. It's easy to fall into the habit of pointing out the problems. Taking a pause can be useful in to letting you focus on the possibilities in addition to the issues.