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FROM THE EDITOR II When king When service was servi ce was twas in the late '50s that I first rememt ber was being in theaware late '50s that I first rememof gas stations, or service ber beingasaware gasappropriately stations, or service stations they of were called stations as they were appropriately called back then. My sister and I stayed with my back My sister andthe I stayed withonmy auntthen. and uncle during summer their aunt uncle during summer farmand in Indiana. Unclethe Paris alwaysonlettheir us go farm in Indiana. Uncle Paris always let us go with him to get gas and have his 1958 with him to serviced. get gas and Chevrolet Hehave evenhis let 1958 me steer the Chevrolet serviced. He even let me steer the car down the driveway on a few occasions. car down thetodriveway on station a few occasions. The trip the service was never The trip to the service station quick because Uncle Paris wouldwas runnever into quick because Uncle Paris would run into several friends and they'd share a few stoseveral and share the a few stories orfriends jokes. In thethey'd meantime, service ries or jokes. In the meantime, the service station guy would be guy would be station checking everything from checking everything from the brake fluid to the air the brake fluid to the air in the tires. Then he'd in the tires. Then he'd wash the windows and wash the windows and polish off the headlights. polish headlights. Mer off thethe predicted goodAfter the predicted goodbyes and handshakes, byes and handshakes, we'd be on our way and we'd be on our way and Uncle Paris would inUncle Paris would inevitably tell us an extenevitably us an extension of tell a story we'd heard sion of a story we'd heard at the service station. It service station. It thethe atwas making of memowas the making of memones. ries. What made me think of What made me think of these lazy summer days these lazy summer days in Pendleton, Ind.? It was in Pendleton, Ind .? It was an article I read in the an article I read in the newspaper recently. It newspaper It was aboutrecently. the marketer was about the marketer who was responsible for the technology that Valerie Cognevich who was responsible for the technology that Valerie Cognevich allows people to pay for their gas at the Editor allows to payseem for their the so Editor pump.people That didn't to begas fastatenough pump. Thatwith didn't seeminvention to be fastthat enough so he's back a new will elimhe's back with a new invention that will eliminate the need to even open your wallet to inate the need to even open your wallet to find the credit card. find the credit card. It's called the Speedpass and Mobil Corp. It's called the Speedpass and Mobil Corp. plans to introduce it in May. The article by plans to introduce it in May. The article The Associated Press describes this as by "an The Associated Press describes this as "an electronic gizmo that can be clipped to a key electronic that can be clipped to a key chain andgizmo uses radio signals that activate the chain and uses radio signals that activate gas pump and charges the purchase withthe a gas pump andpast charges the purchase with a single swipe the pump." single swipe past the pump." The rationale is that customers don't The rationale is that customers don't have the time to fumble for their credit card have the time to fumble for their credit card and then wait an agonizing three or four and then an agonizing three or fourtarget seconds wait for credit authorization. "Our seconds for credit authorization. "Our target customer wants speed and this gives him customer wantsBaker, speedaand gives him speed," Brian topthis Mobil marketing speed," Brian Baker, a top Mobil marketing executive, said. executive, said. What is the world coming to when peoWhat is the world coming to when people can't find the time to find their credit ple can't find the time to find their credit PLAY METER PLAY METER 10 10 card and wait for authorization! I thought it card waitdown for authorization! I thought wasand a step when self-service gas it was a step down when self-service gas pumps made their appearance. Self-service pumps made their appearance. Self-service is a total misnomer anyway because people isdon't a total"service" misnomer anyway because their car, they simplypeople add don't car, cents they simply add gas. "service" They savetheir several for each gallon gas. save cents for each theyThey pump andseveral it comes in handy forgallon those they pump and it comes in handy for those expensive repair bills they have later be- bethey bills repair expensive cause they didn't have thehave timelater or know cause didn't the pressure, time or know how they to check thehave oil, tire power how to check the oil, tire pressure, power steering fluid, and transmission fluid. One of steering fluid,who andbought transmission of my friends a brandfluid. newOne car has my friends who bought a brand new car has had beaucoup problems like completely had beaucoup problems like completely running out of oil! She once asked me how running out of oil! She once asked me how often she should change her oil; she had often should change hercar oil;atshe overshe 22,000 miles on her thehad time! over 22,000 miles on her car at the time! She was surprised when I told her she She was have surprised when I told her least a should already changed it atshe should have already changed it at least a half dozen times. half dozen times. I hope you read "Through the Looking I hope you read "Through the Looking Glass" in our March issue. It's the first of Glass" in our March issue. It's the first of what should be many articles focusing on what should be many articles focusing on high-tech and its applications to our indushigh-tech and its applications to our industry. It's amazing, and a bit overwhelming try. It's amazing, and a bit overwhelming sometimes, when you think about what can sometimes, about what can be done. Itwhen seemsyou thatthink every day there is besome done.announcement It seems that every day there is about a new technolosome announcement about a new technology and we all need to be aware of what's out gythere. and we all need to be aware of what's out Our associate editor Steve White was there. Our associate editor Steve White was chosen as the one who will learn for all of us chosen as the one who will learn for all of us and tell us what he's found in his column and tell us what he's found in his column each month. After all he's the youngest on each month. After all he's the youngest on our staff and therefore it should follow that our andmore therefore follow that he staff will be open it toshould understanding the heGreek will be more open to understanding the behind the technology. It's like kids Greek theones technology. likethose kids beingbehind the only who can It's open being the only ones who can open those child-proof caps. child-proof caps. a new technology looms on Just because Just because a new technology looms the horizon, it doesn't mean we have to on emthe horizon, it doesn't mean we have to embrace it with open arms. However, we brace it with open arms. However, we should be aware. I for one am not waiting should be aware. I for one am not waiting with bated breath for the Speedpass; I'm with bated breath for the Speedpass; I'm just glad that someone is addressing what I what I addressing someone that glad just want. Ray, George, andis Bill at the service service the at Bill and George, Ray, want. (yes, service) station down the street from (yes, station thewelcome street from the service) office pump gasdown for me, my the office pump gas for me, welcome my check, let my son get gas when he's broke check, let my when he'slittle broke and allow meson to get paygas later, check and allow me to pay later, check little things on my car and usually only charge things on my cardoand usually only charge me when they actual work. They'll even me when they do actual work. They'll even remind me to check my oil a little more ofremind meIto check oil car. a little more ten since drive an my older They alsoofreten since I todrive older They also member ask an about mycar. daughter whorewas member to ask about my daughter who in a motorcycle accident. Maybe they'rewas on intoasomething motorcycle. .A.accident. Maybe they're on to something. APRIL 1997 APRIL 1997