XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: droleary@8usenet2013.subsume.com   
      
   In article ,   
    Greg Goss  wrote:   
      
   > "J. Clarke"  wrote:   
   >   
   > >In article ,   
   > >droleary@8usenet2013.subsume.com says...   
   >   
   > >> Such as system should see "pods" as simply cheap containers of a   
   > >> standard size.  Essentially the $10 plastic storage totes we have today.   
   > >> You'd have a stack of them that come and go with the deliveries/returns   
   > >> that need to be made.  All you'd "summon" is a service that can shuttle   
   > >> them between locations.  It's so straightforward I once planned a   
   > >> similar thing as the basis for a bicycle delivery network.   
   > >   
   > >There is a technology in place already that implements this idea.  It is   
   > >called a 'box'.   
   >   
   > I think he's aware of this.  He calls them "totes".   
      
   Indeed; distinguished by the fact that they are boxes made to tote   
   things around, which I expect everyone smarter than a rock understood.   
   As I have often pointed out in this thread, most "futuristic" things   
   (e.g., self-driving cars) are either dumb ways to do what has already   
   been done (trains), make little sense in reality, or alter reality in   
   such a way that our assumptions about the future need to be radically   
   changed.   
      
   So, no, totes/containerization isn't some radically new concept, but the   
   application in logistics has been revolutionary.  For some reason,   
   though, the buck stops at the retail store.  You could even say it stops   
   sooner, because it's not like there is a "standard" size for a cereal   
   box or whatever.  And even though people *could* bring a sturdy   
   container with them to do their shopping, most people still seem to bag   
   things up.  More to the point, if people aren't eager to make such   
   straightforward changes as that, it doesn't bode well for even more   
   futuristic thinking.   
      
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