The Truth Behind Engineer-Speak - Neatorama

Aha! Just as I have long suspected: engineers are just making it up when they speak like are wont to do.

The story behind the clip:

Several years ago, Rockwell International decided to get into the heavy duty transmission business. We were getting ready to tape our first introduction video, as a warm up, the professional narrator began what has become a legend within the trucking industry. This man should have won an academy for his stellar performance. Now remember this is strictly off the cuff, nothing is written down, this became the biggest talk in the industry, vs our new product which we were introducing. I think you will enjoy this once in a lifetime performance from this gentleman.

Hit play or go to Link [YouTube] - via b3ta

Comments (5)

Newest 5

Newest 5 Comments

My favorite part is the "lunar wane shaft".

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It's quite strange to finally put a face to the voice narrating all those old films we watched in elementary school.

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Try this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e1ktRjeOuI

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What he said ^

You can read more about it here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turboencabulator

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No, no, Rockwell didn't invent the Turboencabulator. That was a tech writer sometime in the 1940's. It's been going around the industry ever since in various forms. This video appears to be the GE version from the 1970's.

Here's Rockwell's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXJKdh1KZ0w

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I agree about the flooring. I love that the effect is maintained by two or three rows.

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I think this is a fake. If it was really the pattern causing the illusion I should be able to just look at one corner quadrant and see the same effect. But the warping appears only in the center of the picture.

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Fake? How could you claim that - the illusion is right there in front of you and it sure delivers what it claims!

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Fake? Perhaps you're not seeing what we're seeing. Hold a straight-edge to the screen.

As for flooring - imagine coming home from the pub a bit squiffy...

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Yeah, Skipweasel. I sure wouldn't want this to be my bathroom floor.

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A fake? Ahahahahahahaha! Ha!

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Spurious, the pattern is caused by the vertical or horizontal placement of the black and white checker tiles between the larger purple ones. If you look closely you'll see that while most places on the board alternate how the checker tiles are aligned, there's a row and column down the middle that has two aligned sets, which is what creates the illusion of misalignment radiating from the center.

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SpuriousLogic is aptly named

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To defend SpuriousGeorge, it is a bit of a cheat not to alternate those two lines. But that's what the illusion is about. Kinda spiffy.

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To Pangolin:
Ruin the fun why dontcha.
I think I wanna go home now, I don't feel so good.

All illusions are fake. That's why they are called illusions.

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It's a clever illusion, no doubt. Although the lines are technically straight, and perpendicular to each other, this portion of the illusion is not perfectly perpendicular to the monitor (maybe it got scanned crooked), as it is has been rotated counter-clockwise by 1/2 of a degree (no, seriously). That rotation, however, shouldn't adversely impact the illusion - that the straight lines seem to be bent/curved.

The real truth about this specific illusion... the illusion is slightly crooked, but the lines are straight. Very cool.

I was bored, so created this animated gif of the illusion, with and without the pivotal pieces.

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Thanks Pedro, that is much clearer. And I see now why the warping only appears from the center, and not the rest of the picture is because of the repeated diamonds in the middle.

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I love optical illusions but if this was in my home, i'd probably lose my mind :)

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