Why Can't Cars Move Directly Sideways? (Bite-size Article)

Introduction We use cars in our daily lives, but have you ever wondered, "Why can't cars move directly sideways?" It goes without saying how convenient it would be if cars could smoothly shift sideways. Considering how long cars have existed since their invention, you may find it curious that this feature has not been implemented. When I thought about this, I realized that this is not just a technical issue but also contains important insights that apply to our work and way of life. Why Can't Cars Move Sideways? First, the reason cars cannot move sideways is related to technical constraints and safety concerns. Mechanical Constraints Cars are structurally optimized for forward and backward movement. They are designed with the assumption of moving forward. The steering system changes the angle of the front wheels to turn, but it does not include a mechanism for direct lateral movement. Tire design and movement: Car tires generate propulsion through rotation, making them unsuitable for sideways movement. While it is technically possible to create a mechanism that rotates the tires 90 degrees, it introduces challenges related to cost and durability. Stability Issues Balance and Center of Gravity: Cars are designed with a balance optimized for forward and backward movement. Moving sideways would make the center of gravity unstable, increasing the risk of tipping over and making control more difficult. Friction and Grip Issues: Car tires are designed to maximize friction in the forward and backward directions. If a car were to move sideways, it would struggle to maintain sufficient grip, making it more prone to slipping. In reality, some technologies enabling lateral movement have been developed. However, as of now, "moving forward while changing direction" remains the most efficient and safest way to travel, which is why modern car designs continue to follow this principle. People Also Cannot "Move Sideways" Easily Now, let’s get to the main point. Well, what I want to share with you today on Dev.to is not really about cars (just to be clear). When I pondered the question, "Why can't cars move sideways?" I had a realization: people often focus on what they can't do and try to fix it. At first glance, this seems like a good thing, but that’s not always the case. We tend to focus on our shortcomings, aiming to turn our weaknesses into strengths or handle more tasks simultaneously for greater convenience. However, just as cars cannot move sideways smoothly due to technical constraints, our careers and lives are shaped by the paths we've taken and the experiences we've accumulated. As a result, it’s not always easy—or even advisable—to shift directions abruptly. Take Microsoft's attempt to enter the smartphone market as an example. Microsoft dominated the PC software industry, but when the smartphone market surged in the 2000s, making a shift to mobile became a major challenge. Even though Microsoft had the technical capability to enter the space, moving "sideways" into mobile was strategically difficult. While lagging behind competitors, Microsoft introduced Windows Phone. However, due to mismatches between its concept and market needs, along with delays in building an ecosystem compared to iOS and Android, it failed to attract enough developers and users. This case highlights a crucial lesson: just because a company's strengths work in one field doesn’t mean they will translate seamlessly into another. So, how should we approach this challenge in our own work and lives? Just as cars navigate toward their destinations by moving forward while adjusting their direction, we should take the first step forward and fine-tune our path as we progress. Instead of resisting the flow, we should begin by moving in a direction where we have clarity and adaptability. By staying aware of our direction and making adjustments along the way, we can avoid unnecessary detours while ensuring a more natural and sustainable path forward. Conclusion Striving for something better and more convenient sounds appealing. However, in many cases, what we already have in our hands may actually be the most suitable choice. This is the key idea I wanted to share in this article. I realize the discussion may have been somewhat abstract, and I apologize if it was difficult to follow. Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a great day!

Mar 14, 2025 - 23:52

Why Can't Cars Move Directly Sideways? (Bite-size Article)

Introduction

We use cars in our daily lives, but have you ever wondered, "Why can't cars move directly sideways?" It goes without saying how convenient it would be if cars could smoothly shift sideways. Considering how long cars have existed since their invention, you may find it curious that this feature has not been implemented.

When I thought about this, I realized that this is not just a technical issue but also contains important insights that apply to our work and way of life.

Why Can't Cars Move Sideways?

First, the reason cars cannot move sideways is related to technical constraints and safety concerns.

Mechanical Constraints

Cars are structurally optimized for forward and backward movement.
They are designed with the assumption of moving forward. The steering system changes the angle of the front wheels to turn, but it does not include a mechanism for direct lateral movement.
Tire design and movement: Car tires generate propulsion through rotation, making them unsuitable for sideways movement. While it is technically possible to create a mechanism that rotates the tires 90 degrees, it introduces challenges related to cost and durability.

Stability Issues

Balance and Center of Gravity: Cars are designed with a balance optimized for forward and backward movement. Moving sideways would make the center of gravity unstable, increasing the risk of tipping over and making control more difficult.
Friction and Grip Issues: Car tires are designed to maximize friction in the forward and backward directions. If a car were to move sideways, it would struggle to maintain sufficient grip, making it more prone to slipping.

In reality, some technologies enabling lateral movement have been developed. However, as of now, "moving forward while changing direction" remains the most efficient and safest way to travel, which is why modern car designs continue to follow this principle.

People Also Cannot "Move Sideways" Easily

Now, let’s get to the main point. Well, what I want to share with you today on Dev.to is not really about cars (just to be clear). When I pondered the question, "Why can't cars move sideways?" I had a realization: people often focus on what they can't do and try to fix it. At first glance, this seems like a good thing, but that’s not always the case.

We tend to focus on our shortcomings, aiming to turn our weaknesses into strengths or handle more tasks simultaneously for greater convenience. However, just as cars cannot move sideways smoothly due to technical constraints, our careers and lives are shaped by the paths we've taken and the experiences we've accumulated. As a result, it’s not always easy—or even advisable—to shift directions abruptly.

Take Microsoft's attempt to enter the smartphone market as an example. Microsoft dominated the PC software industry, but when the smartphone market surged in the 2000s, making a shift to mobile became a major challenge. Even though Microsoft had the technical capability to enter the space, moving "sideways" into mobile was strategically difficult. While lagging behind competitors, Microsoft introduced Windows Phone. However, due to mismatches between its concept and market needs, along with delays in building an ecosystem compared to iOS and Android, it failed to attract enough developers and users. This case highlights a crucial lesson: just because a company's strengths work in one field doesn’t mean they will translate seamlessly into another.

So, how should we approach this challenge in our own work and lives?

Just as cars navigate toward their destinations by moving forward while adjusting their direction, we should take the first step forward and fine-tune our path as we progress. Instead of resisting the flow, we should begin by moving in a direction where we have clarity and adaptability. By staying aware of our direction and making adjustments along the way, we can avoid unnecessary detours while ensuring a more natural and sustainable path forward.

Conclusion

Striving for something better and more convenient sounds appealing. However, in many cases, what we already have in our hands may actually be the most suitable choice. This is the key idea I wanted to share in this article.

I realize the discussion may have been somewhat abstract, and I apologize if it was difficult to follow. Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a great day!