An Alabama landline that keeps ringing

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Voice technology, VoIP, and latency

  • Several comments dive into how modern calls are typically VoIP, with higher latency than old analog or TDM (PRI/ISDN) phone systems.
  • People describe how even ~100 ms latency can break natural turn‑taking, causing unintentional “interruptions” and conflict in conversations.
  • Technical discussion distinguishes:
    • Digital telephony with minimal delay (e.g., TDM, small sampling delay, no packetization).
    • VoIP with codec delay, 20+ ms packetization, jitter buffers, and extra buffering.
  • Some note that OTT VoIP (FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom) often sounds better than old narrowband landlines, especially with wideband codecs, and that users may no longer notice latency because it’s ubiquitous.
  • Others nostalgically praise old analog/TDM circuits as “magical,” with effectively instantaneous, room‑length calls.

What is a “landline”?

  • One view: if it’s VoIP, it’s not a real landline because it’s no longer a direct analog circuit.
  • Another: if the signal goes via wires/fiber (as opposed to radio), it’s still a landline; all systems have intermediaries anyway, so the boundary is fuzzy.

Human-staffed hotlines vs AI/LLMs

  • Some propose replacing the student workers with voice-based LLMs or routing queries to numbers like 1‑800‑CHATGPT.
  • Pushback argues the point of the line is human connection, not just answers; automation would undermine its value.
  • Debate emerges over whether AI can ever provide “human connection”:
    • One side: AI can at best emulate or give an illusion; knowing it’s not human “taints” the experience.
    • Another: if there’s no mystical “soul,” advanced AI could eventually provide equivalent connection; current limitations are technological, not metaphysical.
    • Others suggest even if the experience differs, some may still find AI “better” by certain metrics (availability, consistency).
  • A practical issue raised: current voice AIs often struggle with conversational turn-taking.

Comparisons to GOOG‑411, ChaCha, and Google’s product graveyard

  • The Foy Desk is contrasted with services like GOOG‑411 and ChaCha that offered phone-based information and were later shut down.
  • GOOG‑411 is described as a precursor smart directory assistance; commenters note it was likely primarily a voice-data collection project and was killed once it had served that purpose.
  • Multiple comments criticize Google for sunsetting useful, low-cost services (GOOG‑411, Google Reader, SMS search), arguing they squandered goodwill and could have remained as public-facing “nice” utilities.
  • Some speculate GOOG‑411 might have evolved into an unwanted customer-support line or was too heavily abused (e.g., prank calls via Skype).

Nostalgia and firsthand stories about the Foy Desk

  • Alumni recall calling Foy to settle bets (“how many M&Ms fit in the stadium,” obscure trivia like character names) before smartphones were widespread.
  • Former desk workers describe how they used lists of FAQs, early internet, and university systems to answer questions, often from students without home computers or tech skills.
  • Anecdotes include walking a lost student through a confusing campus building by phone, and orientation demonstrations of the service.
  • Several commenters express affection for Auburn and for the human continuity of the desk over decades.

Broader reflections on information access

  • Some argue we lived through a brief “peak information” era: from library lookups to highly effective early search engines, now declining due to spam SEO and generative “slop.”
  • They suggest that in the future, calling a trained human—or going back to libraries—may again be the best way to get reliable information.
  • Others hope skepticism about online/AI interactions will push people toward more offline social contact.

Analog tech, whimsy, and “dying” media

  • The line is likened to other “anachronistic” roles (elevator operators, coal shovelers, buggy-whip makers) that persist in pockets; examples from NYC, Chicago, India, and mining/construction are given.
  • Some see it as similar to college radio: a “dying” medium that remains surprisingly delightful.
  • One commenter describes keeping a big red analog phone (via Magic Jack) as a whimsical, always-audible house line; they plan to reinstall it because “the world needs whimsy.”
  • Another notes giving children access to a landline instead of smartphones as a deliberate choice.

Miscellaneous reactions

  • Several people simply call the article sweet, touching, or “lovely,” with some moved by the poignant ending.
  • One commenter compares the eternal-answering phone line to an SCP-style uncanny object that can answer any question.
  • A few mention similar services from public libraries and other universities.
  • At least one reader bounced due to an intrusive popup on the site and criticizes such UX patterns.