Slashdot Mirror
Automakers and Crash Data Recorders
The New York Times has a decent story about automakers not wanting to standardize car data recorders. There are a couple of nuances which the reporter mostly misses. The automakers want to avoid standardization because they can then sell access to the proprietary data format (NYT does cover this, but ignores the profit motive). The story mentions privacy issues but dismisses them as solved, yet notes that there are no privacy protections whatsoever for this data, and you can expect it to be used against you in any incident (and perhaps other times: wait until service under your warranty is refused because your car reported your bad driving habits to the dealer). That's not "solved" in my book (and I think the automakers realize that selling cars which report on their owners might backfire). Speculation about ambulance crews using crash data is just hype - no ambulance is equipped to do that, nor would I want an EMT to spend time decoding the crash data instead of, say, saving my life. The article repeatedly suggests that crash data would be used to enhance safety, without ever specifying how that is supposed to occur.
There's plenty of other, and non-nagging, information sources available, why not use them?
Because they're not as good. Use them all, but don't avoid one that is free and demands next to nothing in return.
Why do I not see these goofs even with preview?
why it rarely happened in the Audi 5000 and not others Audis, or cars in general
should be:
why it happened in the Audi 5000 and rarely other Audis, or cars in general
Just in case someone gets confused. And someone will.
http://216.80.20.85/WIBCLocalNews/LocalNews/LocalN ewsStory.asp?StoryID=4457
.
May not pass, but they are trying
disclaimer: Im NOT a smoker and i personally think its a bad habit.. BUT it is a persons right to do it at home, on their own time, being its a legal activity in this country..
---- Booth was a patriot ----