Slashdot Mirror
Ford Uses Google For a New Type of Smart Car
RedEaredSlider writes "Ford is using Google technology, specifically its Prediction API, to create a new brand of smart cars. The famous American car company announced it's teaming up with Google to use Prediction API in future cars. The API will be able to use historical driving data and turn it into real time predictions, such as where a driver is headed at the time of a departure. From there, an on-board computer might communicate with the driver, and trigger an optimized power-train control strategy. For an electric car, a predicted route of travel could include an area restricted to electric only driving. Thus, a plug-in hybrid would be able to optimize energy and preserve battery by switching to an all electric mode during travel."
Using the data Google gathers online about you and associating it with your car (you know they would be able to), you could figure out what kind of consumer most often frequents certain roads. You could then determine what kinds of physical ads would be most effective in a given location and sell this data. So here it is - targeted advertisements on billboards, brought to you by google and ford.
Are boring. Dumb cars are much more fun to drive IMHO.
Am I eval()? - http://www.monst3r.com.br
I wonder how MS(Sync) and Google will coexist in the same car. Will Sync go ahead and call AAA for you in an attempt to smear the Google provided route? Will Google go ahead and terminate your Bluetooth connection for you because it thinks you shouldn't be on the phone? Will they both attempt to buy out the ECU for the marketshare of the computer network in the car?
Could be fun, to watch, not to drive.
I'm certain the facebook car already hates it.
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
How soon until it beams all that data to your insurance company and the FBI?
Up until the past five years, the quality of Ford has always sucked. From the chassis, engine, to interior. The quality has been lackluster. But for the most part, Ford has done a 180. Their Focus and Edge series are really nice with good engines. Now that they're teaming up with Google and other technologies firms that already have the experience, I'm very optimistic about that company. Especially after they beat out GM in sales without much government assistance.
Someone lit a fire under their ass. It's about time! My next car might be Ford. Never in my life have I thought to say that.
Life is not for the lazy.
as long as they don't track my location data!
But clearly you have something better to say...
an unholy marriage between Microsoft Sync and Google Prediction API: Auto Navigation Clippy.
Clippy: "Hi! I see you're trying to drive to your drug dealer's place again. Would you like me to take over?"
Driver: "No! Heheh, I don't know why the computer would say that, Mom."
Mom: <glare>
Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
You know how you don't shift up going up hills sometimes. A predictive shifter could be made if you had a database of elevation charts.
God spoke to me.