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Woz Cites "Scary" Prius Acceleration Software Problem
theodp writes "Speaking at Discovery Forum 2010, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak went off topic and spoke about a 'very scary' problem with his 2010 Toyota Prius. 'I don't get upset and teed off at things in life, except computers that don't work right,' said Woz, who went on to explain he'd been trying to get through to Toyota and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration for three months, but could not get anyone to explore an alleged software-related acceleration problem. 'I have a new model that didn't get recalled,' Steve said. 'This new model has an accelerator that goes wild but only under certain conditions of cruise control. And I can repeat it over and over and over again — safely.' Toyota said it investigates all complaints. 'We're in the business of investigating complaints, assessing problems and finding remedies,' said Toyota's John Hanson. 'After man-years of exhaustive testing we have not found any evidence of an electronic [software] problem that would have led to unwanted acceleration.'"
We recently discussed other problems Toyota has had with electronic acceleration systems.
Um, fact check. 134hp, that's engine + synergy drive. 0-60 is about eight weeks (well, 9.8 seconds but what's the difference?)). Under no circumstance whatsoever short of driving off a cliff will a stock Prius accelerate wildly. Sorry Woz! ;)
(Uh, I'm kidding. Obviously.)
The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
Sounds like Woz's stint on "Dancing with the Stars."
I think you mean 1 to 1000000.
Yes but as someone who reads Slashdot regularly, the problem is that the ratio of users who know how to use ratios vs those who THINK they know how to use ratios is approx. 1,000,000 to 1.
Which wouldn't actually be a problem, except that you're the 1.
So having a million knowledgeable users for every one user who just thinks he knows what he's talking about is a problem? I suspect you need some remediation on how to express ratios. Or maybe that really is just your customer-service attitude coming thru again.
Do NOT Fuck with the WOZ!
Just DON'T
It is not prudent.
A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. Emo Philips
Carwinism!
Here's a clue this particular caller might have known what he was talking about : his said 'Hi, my name is Steve Jobs.'
Glonoinha the MebiByte Slayer
Whoops - just read TFA. He's the other Apple guy. But close enough.
I wonder if the help desk at Toyota is hiring, because I just passed their test.
Glonoinha the MebiByte Slayer
Yes I did. I have no doubt, however, that I will be continued to be corrected throughout this thread. It is my destiny, and I can accept that.
Sweet, the biggest blunder of the thread no longer belong to me!
The Japanese do it to save face, the Americans do it to cover their ass. Same behavior, but different parts of the anatomy.
Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
Which only serves to reinforce the notion that it is, in fact, the same problem.
USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
Toyota tech is shouting: "Found it! Found it. I know what is causing the problem. The driver is named Woz"
sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
It was probably one of the most epic examples of human idiocy I have ever encountered. The worst part is that I understand these people are given little flow charts, or on screen wizards, so he must've managed to click past the first box that checked whether the system even turned on or not and then been incapable of handling the idea that my response didn't fit his next question.
Years ago, a falling tree branch took out the phone line to our house. I didn't have a cell phone at the time, so I walked down the block to the convenience store, and called the phone company.
The person on the other end of the line was clearly reading from a script, and tried to ask a littany of questions about the quality of the sound over the line, ignoring my repeated attempts to say that the phone line was now lying - disconnected - in my back yard. Eventually figured out my phone line wasn't hooked up, then got suspicious, asking how it was possible that my phone line was disconnected if I was calling them about it. "Because I'm calling from a payphone down the street."
Still took about a day to repair.
Yes I did. I have no doubt, however, that I will be continued to be corrected throughout this thread. It is my destiny, and I can accept that.
I will correct your statement that you can accept that. I believe that you in fact can not accept being corrected constantly. Unless you are married. But this is /.
Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
I love my Toyota, and am sick of all the Toyota bashing. I didn't know that Slashdot was a tool of the propaganda industry.
When you've got one firmly planted in the other, it's really no difference.
why should some random 9-to-5er paid-hourly desk jockey in a car company know who the hell he is?
Because he was on Dancing With The Stars! Doesn't everybody watch that show?
Karma: Excellent Birds (mostly as a result of listening to Laurie Anderson)
No you're not always wrong!
And he expresses an opinion.
Is he still wrong?
Who's Kathy Griffin?
When you're afraid to download music illegally in your own home, then the terrorists have won!
Shoulda' said he was the Izard of Woz. That woulda' got their attention.
I drank what? -- Socrates
Its a Prius. Toyota still hasn't solved the "wanted acceleration" problem yet.
Have gnu, will travel.
"Good morning! I am the Izard of Woz." *click*
Given the mass of an average Slashdotter, I can confidently say that virtually all of them must be quite familiar with the use of rations. They certainly get enough practice.
Try not to take me more seriously than I take myself.