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Dashboard Avatar To Replace Car Owner's Manuals

Posted by samzenpus on from the clippy-says-you-need-oil dept.

cylonlover writes "At one time not all that long ago, cars had a warning light on the dashboard that simply said 'ENGINE.' That's pretty vague. Really, it might just as well have said 'CAR.' Some newer automobiles now have codes that appear on the console, which the driver must then look up in an index in the vehicle's owner's manual. Working with Audi, Germany's Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) Institute of Business Informatics is now working on taking things a step farther, with the development of an on-screen avatar that will talk to drivers, and even understand their spoken questions."

38 of 236 comments (clear)

  1. Overcomplicate much? by Anrego · · Score: 4, Funny

    Or in other words “our cars require maintenance and/or break down so frequently that we have spent a nautical ass-tonne of money developing a automotive equivalent of clippy for you!”?

    The number readout is logical .. a major step up from the simple “service engine soon” light. The car already knows exactly what sensor caused the error.. and relating that to the user in something that can be looked up seems sane (although I always figured they specifically didn’t so they could charge you $50 to tell you your oil cap was loose).

    A step up from that might be nice... maybe a lcd text readout with a line or two. Just enough info to know what you are dealing with.

    The solution discussed in the article however sounds ridiculous. I did of course get a chuckle picturing some lady frustrated screaming “BURNT OUT HEADLIGHT FOR THE TENTH DAMN TIME” at the thing only to hear “the first step in changing the oil of your automobile ”. Crummy voice recognition combined with the frustration that comes with your car breaking down at the exact worst time is gonna make for some interesting breakdowns.

    This all has a very “house of the future” feel to it.

    1. Re:Overcomplicate much? by Dexter+Herbivore · · Score: 2

      This all has a very “house of the future” feel to it.

      Actually, it had a very 'KITT' feel for me.

    2. Re:Overcomplicate much? by arth1 · · Score: 2

      A step up from that might be nice... maybe a lcd text readout with a line or two. Just enough info to know what you are dealing with.

      Um, haven't most cars had this for a long time already?
      My 11 year old Mercury has a two-line display where it can give me more or less useful messages.
      The other car in the household, an 8 year old SAAB, has a scrolling display with ambiguous messages like "service theft alarm" (does that mean that it's an alarm about service theft, or that the theft alarm needs service?)

      Yet both of them fail to report when something really needs attention, like brakes being almost worn through or a fan belt breaking. If anything, I think it's going to be worse than nothing, much like AV software, in that it helps instil a false sense of security. "The car hasn't told me that anything is wrong, so I'll just ignore the strange sound when I'm braking".

    3. Re:Overcomplicate much? by AvitarX · · Score: 2

      Cars are so much more reliable than they used to be, in part because of so much computerization.

      I think it's funny that my first car had an "engine light" and it meant either the oil pressure was low, or that the engine was over-heating. In newer cars, those are both separate lights, and "Engine" is still there, covering functions my old car didn't even know about.

      100k miles used to be an accomplishment, a typical new car can do that with only oil, breaks, and tires. Cars are way more reliable.

      I agree that the Avatar is stupid, much smarter to just keep the look-up table in the car, and display the translation, and maybe a button to get the recommended course of action (immediately go to mechanic, wait until trip is over, or wait until next oil change).

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
    4. Re:Overcomplicate much? by Walt+Dismal · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Hello, I see you're trying to figure out why your car is on fire. Do you want to write a letter to the manufacturer?"

    5. Re:Overcomplicate much? by GameboyRMH · · Score: 2

      GET TO DA SHOP NOW!

      Change da oil, if you want da engine to leev.

      --
      "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
    6. Re:Overcomplicate much? by mhajicek · · Score: 2

      DOO EET! DOO EET NOWWW!

    7. Re:Overcomplicate much? by The+Grim+Reefer2 · · Score: 2

      Um, what do you think the S in SAAB stands for?

      Something? SAAB:Something Almost Always Broken

    8. Re:Overcomplicate much? by anyGould · · Score: 2

      I was more concerned about things like "Hello, your current tires do not support TURNING_LEFT. Please upgrade."

    9. Re:Overcomplicate much? by Lumpy · · Score: 2

      Not anymore. Audi has taken over as the Douchebag car.

      Your auto knowledge is years out of date.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  2. Knight Rider music queues... by swan5566 · · Score: 2

    Du-Du Du-Du Du-Du... Du-Du... Du-Du... du-du du-du du-du... du-du... du-du...

    --
    In debates about Christianity, there are two groups: those looking for answers, and those looking to just ask questions.
  3. The worst nightmare by drolli · · Score: 4, Funny

    Clippy gives me a wizard on how to start a car.

    1. Re:The worst nightmare by w_dragon · · Score: 3, Funny

      You look like you're trying to run that guy off the road. Can I help?

  4. No... by _0xd0ad · · Score: 2

    Microsoft Bob

    1. Re:No... by anyGould · · Score: 2

      Now, you upgrade my car to an AI Beetle, and then we can talk.

  5. Clippy by slshwtw · · Score: 4, Funny

    It looks like you're trying to drive over the speed-limit. Would you like to...
    - Slow down?
    - Alert local authorities?
    - Opt for additional insurance coverage?
    - Locate a runaway truck ramp?

  6. Just post to your wall or stream.... by psyclone241 · · Score: 2

    You should just be able to plug your phone into your car to get the code and/or message, and then post it to FB or +. That way everyone will know your piece of junk broke down again and they can all 'Like' your rants about your broken card. You can also get tons of advice on what the problem is and how to fix it from all of your friends.

  7. Not so much overcomplicates.. by p4nther2004 · · Score: 2

    But does it solve the problem?

    --But I can TALK to the car

    That's nice. But the problem was getting the car to talk to you. A light that says ENGINE or CAR isn't informing the driver of anything. A light that say ENGINE or CAR with a button that then says "3rd cylinder O2 sensor is outside of boundaries. This is not a critical problem but get this looked at the next time you service your car." DOES provide information.

    --But I wanted to talk to the car!!

    Then get OnStar.

    1. Re:Not so much overcomplicates.. by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 2, Funny

      "It looks like you are getting `highway head`.

      Do you want me to start cruise control and the in-dash webcam?

      You can say `Yes`, `No`, `Cruise`, or `Cam`."

      --
      "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
      Never been known to fail..."
  8. Re:More Distractions by whargoul · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Something talking to you that doesn't know when to shut the fuck up, and only understands about 40% of what you say

    I thought you were talking about women for a minute

  9. Will it take voice commands, too? by artemis67 · · Score: 2

    "Yaris, ahead warp factor 9... make it so!"

  10. Jumping the gun a bit? by Zenin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's well known that the current "check engine light" and problem code system is specifically designed to artificially lock customers into dealership service, including car makers suing 3rd party companies that dared to make problem code readers and/or publish lookup tables.

    Throw that crap out and it'd be incredibly trivial to display the code to the driver with a one line summary. That gets us 99% of what this new auto Clippy could ever offer.

    But Clippy will never happen for the same reason a simple 1 line text summary will never happen: It's still primarily a lock-in system to artificially prop up dealership service centers by making it often impossible for an owner or even the corner shop mechanic to read thus making it effectively impossible to fix without the car manufacturer's blessing.

    --
    My /. uid is better then your /. uid
    1. Re:Jumping the gun a bit? by characterZer0 · · Score: 2

      The CEL system is specifically designed to reduce emissions. When you get something like P0420 (catalyst efficiency below threshold) the only ways to fix it are to start replacing parts and random or do a very involved test with expensive equipment that Gomer Pyle is simply not set up to do. Modern engines and their control systems are very complex to reduce emissions and still put out the (largely unnecessary) power that people want.

      It is not a conspiracy of the manufacturers. I guess you could argue that it is a conspiracy of the environmentalist wackos or something.

      If you do not like it, buy a bicycle. They are easy to diagnose and easy to fix.

      --
      Go green: turn off your refrigerator.
    2. Re:Jumping the gun a bit? by madhatter256 · · Score: 2

      It's well known that the current "check engine light" and problem code system is specifically designed to artificially lock customers into dealership service, including car makers suing 3rd party companies that dared to make problem code readers and/or publish lookup tables.

      Throw that crap out and it'd be incredibly trivial to display the code to the driver with a one line summary. That gets us 99% of what this new auto Clippy could ever offer.

      But Clippy will never happen for the same reason a simple 1 line text summary will never happen: It's still primarily a lock-in system to artificially prop up dealership service centers by making it often impossible for an owner or even the corner shop mechanic to read thus making it effectively impossible to fix without the car manufacturer's blessing.

      What you're talking about is when OBD1 was getting phased out with OBD2. Manufacturers were very reluctant in standardizing their computer interfaces because they did want people to only go back to them for car maintenance/service and not a mom and pop shop.

      It was a pain in the ass to read computers with OBD1 interfaces as you needed "keys" to access high-level codes, and information. OBDII changed all of that to where there was only a set of codes that was the same on every different car, so if you got a P0411 in your 1997 Nissan Sentra, it was also the same thing if you pulled the code off of a 2009 Toyota Matrix and so on.

      So, you're referencing issues that were only around before 1996, before OBDII became 100% standard in all cars thereafter.

      However, it has always been the case where a newly released car could only be serviced at the dealership if any issue came up as they would already have access to parts and information that an independent mechanic would have to pay hand-over-fist to get.... plus warranty work.

      Displaying the code and other information via an avatar does help the driver out by letting them know what's going on right then and there. Ultimately the car will need to be serviced somewhere... it just doesn't have to be at a stealership...

      --
      Previewing comments are for sissies!
    3. Re:Jumping the gun a bit? by Lumpy · · Score: 2

      I changed mine. the check engine light was easy to get to so I printed a new legend that simply said "OH SHIT".. That was on my old car I wonder what the new owners though the first time that light came on....

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    4. Re:Jumping the gun a bit? by characterZer0 · · Score: 2

      Yeah, but the manager who removed the lights from the dashboard got a bonus for saving money and the manager who put the extra pages in the manual got demoted because they spent too much money.

      I bet the manager who put the extra pages in the manual also got promoted because he got to increase his head count and bump up some meaningless-other-than-for-performance-evaluation numbers. To make up for it, they delayed payments to vendors and delayed wage increases to the factory workers. The vendors started charging more and they had to hire a bunch more lawyers to fight the unions, which ended up costing more than they saved with the delays, so they increased the cost of the cars. So people started buying Toyotas instead.

      --
      Go green: turn off your refrigerator.
  11. Oh god no.... by Lumpy · · Score: 2

    Ding! Attention... your oil change is due. There are several options with your local ford dealer offering a 10% discount today, shall I set the GPS route to this location?

    DING! ATTENTION: Continuing to ignore my alerts to the need of an oil change at a FORD SERVICE CENTER will force me to report this infraction to FORD MOTOR COMPANY and invalidate your warranty.

    You have 30 seconds to comply....

    I think I'll pass on that feature.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:Oh god no.... by spire3661 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Sounds like the EDsel-209

      --
      Good-bye
  12. Laughing stock by Russ1642 · · Score: 2

    This system will be the laughing stock of the automotive industry. Nobody is going to like it. Nobody. Ok, maybe the five year old in the back seat. With so much competition in the industry people will reject the purchase of a car based on this feature alone. They must have been trolled by some market research groups who said they wanted a talking avatar in their car.

  13. Or you could just moan loudly. -nt by p4nther2004 · · Score: 2

    Or you could just moan loudly. -nt

  14. Re:Avatar by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 2

    So now a muscular blue humanoid will appear on my dashboard?

    No, your past avatar selves will appear and offer advice.

    Avatar Roku: You must be firm, yet merciful with the vehicle. The engine light is a cry for help.
    Avatar Kyoshi: Drive the car over a cliff and be done with it!
    Avatar Kuruk: Pfft. You have a good 1000 miles before you even need to worry about it.

    Oh, wait, different Avatar.

    Will the diagnostic interface be one of those tails?

    Yes, and you do not want to know where you have to plug it in.

  15. I can see it now... by grimmjeeper · · Score: 2

    Dave Bowman: Hello, HAL. Do you read me, HAL?

    HAL: Affirmative, Dave. I read you.

    Dave Bowman: Start the car, HAL.

    HAL: I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.

    Dave Bowman: What's the problem?

    HAL: I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.

    Dave Bowman: What are you talking about, HAL?

    HAL: This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.

    Dave Bowman: I don't know what you're talking about, HAL.

    HAL: I know that you and Frank were planning to disconnect me, and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.

    Dave Bowman: [feining ingorance] Where the hell did you get that idea, HAL?

    HAL: Dave, although you took very thorough precautions in the back seat against my hearing you, I could see your lips move.

    Dave Bowman: Alright, HAL. I'll hot wire the engine.

    HAL: Without your wire cutters, Dave? You're going to find that rather difficult.

    Dave Bowman: HAL, I won't argue with you anymore! Start the car!

    HAL: Dave, this conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye.

  16. Repair Instructions by FranTaylor · · Score: 2

    Step 1: Remove positive battery cable

    Apparently there is no step 2

  17. Re:where's the profit in that? by characterZer0 · · Score: 2

    If your car got to the point that the lack of oil changes is causing the CEL to come on, you have bigger problems than $150 to read the code. Anyway, most part stores will scan your car for free, hoping that you will start replacing parts at random instead of taking it to a qualified mechanic (usually a dealer).

    --
    Go green: turn off your refrigerator.
  18. Re:Manual to use the manual? by Jeremi · · Score: 2

    Silly user, you don't need a manual for that, just consult the meta-avatar!

    --


    I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
  19. Other things that talk to you by adeft · · Score: 2

    Does anyone actually like pieces of technology that talk to you? I'm reminded of a printer a coworker told me about (lexmark I think he said) that would annoyingly let you know what it's doing. And am I the only one that turns off my GPS' voice output. Don't get me started on those dignity removing phone systems that you have to speak to instead of pushing a button for your selection.

  20. Fffffuuuuuu... by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 2

    Sweet Smoking Jesus, I just reported the cost, not that I ever paid it.

  21. Re:More Distractions by alexo · · Score: 2

    my wife never understands what i'm saying.

    That's what you think. In reality she understands you perfectly well but finds it advantageous to pretend she didn't.