Many of these buttons around the country still work, and it has little to do with computer control. The difference is whether the signal is actuated by traffic, or is nonactuated. Signal coordinated with their neighbors to move bands of traffic along a corridor without stopping are running in a (mostly) nonactuated mode along the main street. Some schemes for central control of the timing depend on causing the pedestrian signals to operate every time. Isolated signals, however, probably will not give you a WALK indication unless you push the button. Signals using more modern coordination schemes do not require the pedestrian signals to cycle continuously. It is configurable. The remark about computer-controlled traffic signals means little, as coordinated signal systems predated the use of computers in traffic control, and these systems depended on the pedestrian cycle for timing. Computers just make the whole system more efficient by allowing for more or less real-time feedback.
I am not an idiot. I don't need Word to handle spacing after the period for me. It doesn't handle spacing when cutting and pasting into a text document, by adding another space. If the user must know to handle these special cases, the design is bad.
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OK, moderators. A sense of humor? Anyone?
There were return receipts on a Data General system we used in the late 80's. They called it "Certified Mail."
Many of these buttons around the country still work, and it has little to do with computer control. The difference is whether the signal is actuated by traffic, or is nonactuated. Signal coordinated with their neighbors to move bands of traffic along a corridor without stopping are running in a (mostly) nonactuated mode along the main street. Some schemes for central control of the timing depend on causing the pedestrian signals to operate every time. Isolated signals, however, probably will not give you a WALK indication unless you push the button. Signals using more modern coordination schemes do not require the pedestrian signals to cycle continuously. It is configurable. The remark about computer-controlled traffic signals means little, as coordinated signal systems predated the use of computers in traffic control, and these systems depended on the pedestrian cycle for timing. Computers just make the whole system more efficient by allowing for more or less real-time feedback.
I am not an idiot. I don't need Word to handle spacing after the period for me. It doesn't handle spacing when cutting and pasting into a text document, by adding another space. If the user must know to handle these special cases, the design is bad.