Weird and Wacky Engineering
My hat's off to Toshiba
Clive Maxfield
2/21/2013 12:12 PM EST
I just saw a bunch of entertaining new videos from Toshiba. These involve two guys called Matt and Jamie putting Toshiba's Ultrabook PCs and LED TVs through a series of extreme tests, including monster trucks, car washes, paint shakers, and more.
So many product test videos show the products only in a good light, so the fact that some of these videos show the products failing puts an interesting spin on things. Of course, when you actually see what these guys are doing to the products, the fact that they fail is not too surprising. What is surprising is the fact that the products actually do survive some of these tests.
The monster truck
The car wash
The steam room
The electric shock treatment
The paint mixer
To be honest, I'm hard-pushed to pick my favorite, but I think that "The Paint Mixer" video takes first prize for me – which one makes you grin (or wince) the most?
If you found this article to be interest, visit Microcontroller / MCU Designline where – in addition to my Max's Cool Beans blogs on all sorts of "stuff" – you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of designing and using microcontrollers.
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Last but certainly not least, make sure you check out all of the discussions and other information resources at All Programmable Planet. For example, in addition to blogs by yours truly, microcontroller expert Duane Benson is learning how to use FPGAs to augment (sometimes replace) the MCUs in his robot (and other) projects.
So many product test videos show the products only in a good light, so the fact that some of these videos show the products failing puts an interesting spin on things. Of course, when you actually see what these guys are doing to the products, the fact that they fail is not too surprising. What is surprising is the fact that the products actually do survive some of these tests.
The monster truck
The car wash
The steam room
The electric shock treatment
The paint mixer
To be honest, I'm hard-pushed to pick my favorite, but I think that "The Paint Mixer" video takes first prize for me – which one makes you grin (or wince) the most?
If you found this article to be interest, visit Microcontroller / MCU Designline where – in addition to my Max's Cool Beans blogs on all sorts of "stuff" – you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to all aspects of designing and using microcontrollers.
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
Last but certainly not least, make sure you check out all of the discussions and other information resources at All Programmable Planet. For example, in addition to blogs by yours truly, microcontroller expert Duane Benson is learning how to use FPGAs to augment (sometimes replace) the MCUs in his robot (and other) projects.
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IDontUseTheForumSoWhyAmIForcedToMakeANickname
2/22/2013 12:07 PM EST
It's refreshing to see that a company can portray it's products failing. So often the marketing BS only states the stunning virtues of the product. Not to mention that every company imaginable touts themselves as "The World Leader in [blank]"
By showing the product failing (albeit, in extreme conditions), the viewer can better relate it to the real world. We expect it fail in those conditions but when it does manage to pass, we suddenly think "Wow, it's better than I thought ... it IS tough." Having the potential customer come to their own conclusions is way more effective than regurgitating product specs.
Kudos to Toshiba. I'm willing to bet that these videos will positively impact sales.
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Max the Magnificent
2/22/2013 4:20 PM EST
I totally agree -- even when the product fails, they manage to squeeze the message in "When we test it with XXX it passes" followed by "when we run over it with a truck ... or when we put it through a car wash if fails" and the failure is no surprise ... but you've watched the video and seen the product and the name "Toshiba" is in your head...
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SteveD_Aus
2/24/2013 5:20 PM EST
Perhaps with the electrical discharge test they could have tied it to a kite during a thunderstorm?
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Max the Magnificent
2/25/2013 10:42 AM EST
We could try that test ourselves (can you loan me your notepad?)
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jackOfManyTrades
2/25/2013 3:12 AM EST
You may be familar with the BBC TV programme, Top Gear (it is syndicate in dozens of countries, I understand). They did similar tests on a Toyota pickup.
I can't remember them all, but I remember the penultimate test: leaving it on the beach at low tide and letting the tide come in. I also remember the last test: leaving it on the roof of a tall bulding and blowing up the building. There are two important differences, however:
i) all the tests were done on the same vehicle
ii) (after some minor tinkering) the Toyota pickup passed all the tests!
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Max the Magnificent
2/25/2013 10:42 AM EST
I'm not really a "car man" -- but I would love to see those tests -- are they on YouTube, do you think?
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eewiz
2/25/2013 9:21 AM EST
IMO. these ads are more persuasive than a portraying the products in only good light. Recent psychological studies shows that if you push too much, people tend to not believe you.
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-01-28/national/36587180_1_extroverts-introverts-extroversion
So the people who made these ads have done their homework
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Max the Magnificent
2/25/2013 10:43 AM EST
I agree -- one's first reaction is "this is a silly waste of time" but the fact that we are still talking about it would indicate otherwise
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Hughston
2/25/2013 2:57 PM EST
I can't see these at work, but I want to know if it blends (the notorious blender test).
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Max the Magnificent
2/26/2013 1:20 PM EST
It would have to be a really big blender for a notepad (more like a cement mixer :-)
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dilbertclone
2/25/2013 5:12 PM EST
Not quite as polished, but reminds me of this Digikey video a while back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxnLn79RO2E
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Max the Magnificent
2/26/2013 1:20 PM EST
I've not seen that before -- very interesting - -thanks for sharing
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