Posted by
michael
on from the welding-torches-work-both-ways dept.
An Ominous Cow Erred writes "A common argument used by open source advocates (myself included) in favor of open source is the simple question: 'Would you buy a car with the hood welded shut?' According to an article from the BBC, Volvo thinks the way of the future may be exactly that."
One thing to note for people who don't actually read the article, this is a car that is not only just a concept, but is a concept aimed at the type of women who would never open the hood anyway.
The Audi A2 is halfway towards this concept. It doesn't have a bonnet (hood) as such, just a small flap to check oil and water levels.
Don.
-- Slashdot - The Home of the Tortured Analogy
Re:This bears watching
by
EvilTwinSkippy
·
· Score: 4, Informative
IBM tried this with their mainframes and lost. Case law already states this type of activity is illegal on anti-trust grounds. I'm pretty sure the big-three automakers tried similar tactics, and were also laughed out of court.
Besides, you aren't copying the car. The DMCA doesn't apply.
-- "Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
--Dr.W.Edwards Deming
No seriously, it *is* a car for women - RTA
by
blorg
·
· Score: 5, Informative
Volvo's new concept car, launched at the Geneva motor show, is a car designed by women for women. [...] [The car] was designed by a team of women keen to change the way most cars are designed with male drivers in mind. [...] And for women with ponytails, there is even a split in the middle of the headrest. "It is very uncomfortable to drive with a ponytail," said Ms Christiansen.
Re:It's a car for women!
by
ThogScully
·
· Score: 4, Informative
I call BS. Water in your brake lines would boil the first time you tapped the brakes. Brake fluid doesn't boil for hundreds of degrees where as water would boil just coming near your brakes. Once it boils, you've got no brake pressure and you better hope your parking brake has some tension. -N
-- I've nothing to say here...
Re:Not a new idea
by
DocSnyder
·
· Score: 4, Informative
The Audi A2, which actually is _in production_ (and has been for a couple of years) has a "locked" hood/bonnet too.
The A2's hood is not really locked shut, it's only held differently compared to other cars. After unlocking two quick-out knobs, you can lift the hood (about 9 kg) off and access everything without the hood being in the way.
Re:remote diagnostics
by
enrico_suave
·
· Score: 4, Informative
I'm not sure I'd trust remote diagonstics...
Car manufacturers do insidious things with their ability to "code" stuff into the onboard computer.
For example nissan purposely ratcheted down the HP of one of their cars in software/firmware and then of course sells an "add on kit" where you get that hp "back" for $$$.
Say nothing of the idiot light's that go on ("ooooh check engine, I'm scared.. I better pull over and get towed to a dealership right away!") at specified intervals/mileage to have people bring in their cars for a manufacturers recommended fleecing.
(note sometimes check engine does indicate a "real" problem... or an emissions issue... YMMV... and if your oil light comes on, for the love of god don't continue driving it for an hour till the engine siezes... pull over and call your husband and/or put some damn oil in!!!! Wait, was that my "outside voice/text"?)
Re:It's a car for women!
by
cdrudge
·
· Score: 5, Informative
Huh? Brake fluid isn't compressable either. You don't want compressable things when maximum pressure is required.
Water could be used as a brake fluid if it wasn't for two things: corrosion and boiling point. The components of the brake system would quickly rust or otherwise corrode with water in the system. Also brakes get very hot and the water would boil off.
Re:It's a car for women!
by
Tmack
·
· Score: 5, Informative
No, water, same as most any liquid, is not compressable. What it DOES do that brake fluid does not, is boil at a relatively low temp. The friction from the pads against the disc/drum heats up all your brake components, disc/drum/pads/calipers/fluid/etc. Once heated, the water would boil, creating steam pockets in your brakeline, and steam (a gas) is VERY compressable.
Just realize the parent is flamebait and move along, nothing to see here.
Tm
--
Support TBI Research: http://www.raisinhope.org
Re:It's a car for women!
by
WinterSolstice
·
· Score: 5, Informative
Well, Porsche used to have the oil fill port as well as the fuel fill port accessible from the exterior.
This was *very* short lived (I think it was 71 or 72) because people are amazingly capable of screwing things up.
-WS
-- An operating system should be like a light switch... simple, effective, easy to use, and designed for everyone.
Slashdot Mirror
One thing to note for people who don't actually read the article, this is a car that is not only just a concept, but is a concept aimed at the type of women who would never open the hood anyway.
The headline should have been much, much clearer.
The Audi A2 is halfway towards this concept. It doesn't have a bonnet (hood) as such, just a small flap to check oil and water levels.
Don.
Slashdot - The Home of the Tortured Analogy
Besides, you aren't copying the car. The DMCA doesn't apply.
"Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival."
--Dr.W.Edwards Deming
Volvo's new concept car, launched at the Geneva motor show, is a car designed by women for women. [...] [The car] was designed by a team of women keen to change the way most cars are designed with male drivers in mind. [...] And for women with ponytails, there is even a split in the middle of the headrest. "It is very uncomfortable to drive with a ponytail," said Ms Christiansen.
I call BS. Water in your brake lines would boil the first time you tapped the brakes. Brake fluid doesn't boil for hundreds of degrees where as water would boil just coming near your brakes. Once it boils, you've got no brake pressure and you better hope your parking brake has some tension.
-N
I've nothing to say here...
The A2's hood is not really locked shut, it's only held differently compared to other cars. After unlocking two quick-out knobs, you can lift the hood (about 9 kg) off and access everything without the hood being in the way.
I'm not sure I'd trust remote diagonstics...
Car manufacturers do insidious things with their ability to "code" stuff into the onboard computer.
For example nissan purposely ratcheted down the HP of one of their cars in software/firmware and then of course sells an "add on kit" where you get that hp "back" for $$$.
Say nothing of the idiot light's that go on ("ooooh check engine, I'm scared.. I better pull over and get towed to a dealership right away!") at specified intervals/mileage to have people bring in their cars for a manufacturers recommended fleecing.
(note sometimes check engine does indicate a "real" problem... or an emissions issue... YMMV... and if your oil light comes on, for the love of god don't continue driving it for an hour till the engine siezes... pull over and call your husband and/or put some damn oil in!!!! Wait, was that my "outside voice/text"?)
e.
Build Your Own PVR/HTPC news, reviews, &
Huh? Brake fluid isn't compressable either. You don't want compressable things when maximum pressure is required.
Water could be used as a brake fluid if it wasn't for two things: corrosion and boiling point. The components of the brake system would quickly rust or otherwise corrode with water in the system. Also brakes get very hot and the water would boil off.
Just realize the parent is flamebait and move along, nothing to see here.
Tm
Support TBI Research: http://www.raisinhope.org
Well, Porsche used to have the oil fill port as well as the fuel fill port accessible from the exterior.
This was *very* short lived (I think it was 71 or 72) because people are amazingly capable of screwing things up.
-WS
An operating system should be like a light switch... simple, effective, easy to use, and designed for everyone.