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Toyota Patents Winking, Laughing, Crying Car
theodp writes "If the patent system ain't broke, don't fix it: The NY Times/IHT reports that four inventors working for Toyota in Japan have won a patent for a car that they say can help drivers communicate better by glaring angrily at another car cutting through traffic, as well as appear to cry, laugh, wink or just look around." The article goes on to describe "...a car with an antenna that wags, an adjustable body height, headlights that vary in intensity and hood slits and ornamentation designed to look like eyebrows, eyelids and tears."
is what part of the car is going to represent the middle finger
...would Herbie the Love Bug count as prior art?
Editor Emeritus and Senior Writer, TeleRead.org
Two Words:
Moon Roof
2 tonne furbies on wheels
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| \,X`\ HEIL HITLER
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...before the first news article "Driver of Glaring Car Shot to Death"?
This sig seemed like a good idea at the time....
I wonder what expression a riced-out version will show when mom's minivan beats it in a drag race...
Wait... No, thats totally (for lack of better word, no offense to anyone) Gay. Very Gay. When are you going to make them fly like you promised in the 50's? Thats the future I want. I want a flying car with laser cannons! And missles that come out of the tail pipe! With a racing stripe!
Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
Sounds like smilies for cars to me ;-)
Life is like a web application. Sometime you need cookies just to get by.
I hope the inventors complied with their duty to submit a copy of "Roger Rabbit" to the patent office. Benny the Cab anticipates every technology described in the article.
...now I have to deal with being surrounded by crying cars on the way to work.
Screw that.
Only if you take a picture of it with your camera phone.
No. Do not test your theory by way of brakes. Even if they hit you, you still have to go through the hassle of exchanging information, talking with insurance, etc. That's annoying.
Do what I do.
Keep a realistic looking stuffed toy dog (even a cat does the trick) in your car -- it doesn't need to be big or anything -- just realistic looking. Then, when someone is tailgating you, calmly roll down your window and release Fido (make sure your hand doesn't stick out too far -- ruins the realism).
Trust me...I almost died laughing when I tried it the first time. The guy slammed on his brakes and swerved to avoid hitting my "dog." And, well, let's just say he kept a healthy distance after that.
I can't wait for the possible dating situations...
Ford F-250 winks at the cute little Toyota Echo.
"Hey good lookin', what's a car like you doin' on a highway like this?"
Will that be premium or supreme?
Can I change your oil?
And my personal favorite:
Wanna flash me?
Thank you, I'll be here all night. Don't forget to tip your waitress and try the steak...
I have a issue of Grassroots Motorsports, where they did an autocross competition between a 1965 Porsche 356, a 1967 Jag XKE convertible, and a stock 2003 Honda Odessy minivan.
The minivan, with stock tires, smoked the Jag, and tied the Porsche. With one level better tires, the minivan smoked the 356 as well. Smoked it badly
My old 1974 Fiat X-1/9. Bump the headlight switch just right, and the left headlight pod would go op, down, and back up again. Winking, as it were.
Because I'm going 80 in a 70 zone and I'm
a) too nice of a person to let you go 110 and get a ticket.
b) driving a car too tall to fit underneath the truck in the lane next to me.
c) pretending I'm in NASCAR by letting you draft 3 inches from my bumper.
d) secretly amused by your obvious frustration.
Your fantasies contain the seeds of important concepts.
As a car is stuck at the lights the eyes will slowly follow some girl crossing the road, and then the hood will pop open..
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