More tech than we need?

I am sat before an Apple Mac computer. When I first bought it, it was state-of-the-art, featuring an M2 chip - whatever that means - and it is, by far, the most powerful machine I have ever owned. Yet, for much of the day, for the 22 and a half hours it isn't occupied with LiveStreaming, it serves as little more than a glorified typewriter.

Now, don’t get me wrong; it's an impressive typewriter. The keyboard is a delight to use, and the mouse glides effortlessly. Yet, here I am, with more computing power at my fingertips than NASA had when they sent a man to the moon, and I use it to type articles about demolition and diggers.

There are applications I've never opened, features I've never explored. My computer can play music and movies, but it never has. It can take photographs, provide weather updates, and navigate me via maps, yet it has never done any of those things either. In essence, handing me this computer is like giving the keys to a Ferrari to a monkey.

But I am not a Luddite. And neither, I suspect, are the tens of thousands of equipment operators around the globe that rarely touch the tech crammed into the cabs of their machines.

Modern machinery is designed to be finely tuned to meet the specific needs of its operators, owners, applications, and even the attachments they use. Yet, I’d wager most operators set their preferences once and never look back.

Today’s machine cabs are equipped with monitor screens that offer a labyrinth of menus and sub-menus. These allow operators to adjust everything from engine revs and hydraulic pressures to their preferred radio stations or Bluetooth devices. But how often do they actually use these features? Do they spend the start of each day navigating through drop-down menus, or do they simply hop in, hit the start button, and pick up where they left off the previous day?

If the latter is true, it raises an important question: Why are equipment manufacturers so obsessed with cramming their latest models with endless tech features when the end users don’t seem particularly bothered?

There are several reasons for this, but the most significant is that technology has become a key differentiator. It’s the battlefield on which manufacturers now compete for market dominance and sales.

Many manufacturers now source their engines, drivelines, and components from a shrinking pool of suppliers, leaving little to distinguish a yellow excavator from one brand from a grey one from another. The real differentiator now lies in the tech.

This shift has made my job more challenging. Press releases that once succinctly detailed a machine’s size, operating weight, bucket capacity, dig depth, reach, and payload now bury these important facts beneath descriptions of “seven-inch displays,” Bluetooth connectivity, and AI-powered reversing cameras.

It’s akin to a car salesman fixating on the capacity of the ashtrays or design of the door handles when all you want to know is how fuel-efficient the car is for your daily commute.

There’s another critical point to consider. Much of the in-cab technology I’ve described comes standard with machines, whether operators want it or not. Even if you haven’t embraced telematics, your machine is likely brimming with sensors monitoring its every function. Nowadays, fixing a machine often requires a laptop and a sonic screwdriver.

And yet, the technology that could genuinely enhance site safety - obstacle avoidance systems, reversing cameras, human form recognition - is typically available only as an optional extra.

This dichotomy is puzzling. Manufacturers prioritise flashy, marketable tech features over the practical ones that could potentially save lives. It’s as if the industry has lost sight of what truly matters, favouring bells and whistles over foundational safety improvements.

We have access to incredible technology, much of it goes underutilised or misprioritised. My computer, like many modern machines, holds untapped potential. Yet, both are often reduced to their simplest functions because the complexity and abundance of features overshadow their practical use.

Perhaps it’s time for a recalibration; ?to shift focus from tech for tech’s sake to technology that genuinely enhances usability and safety. Until then, I’ll continue using my state-of-the-art computer as a typewriter, and machine operators will continue to ignore the technological marvels in their cabs, just getting on with the job at hand.

This article was written by Mark Anthony, founder and editor of DemolitionNews.com.

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