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Consumers Expect Their Cars To Become Mini Data Centers (networkworld.com)
coondoggie writes: Many consumers expect self-driving cars to become common in the not-too-distant future -- cars that diagnose problems without human intervention, cars that adapt to a particular driver's behaviors and react to its environment. Those are some of the conclusions from IBM's 'Auto 2025: A New Relationship – People and Cars' research involving 16,000 global consumers who were asked how they expect to use vehicles in the next ten years. IBM found consumers have the expectation that cars will soon communicate with other vehicles and infrastructure around them, integrating easily into a broader collection of traffic. More than a third of consumers said they'd be likely to allow collection of their driving data to support these services -- a notable figure, given that IBM is partnering with Ford to do exactly that.
A car used to be about independence, it was really the BIG first step in becoming and independent person from your parents, and was a symbol of individual freedom.
Now? I dunno....in the excerpt, it shows a growing number of people, willing to give up private, aggregate data about themselves, for the "greater good"....for some perceived and possibly realistic possibility of greater safety.
My question is, are you really that scared? Are you that scared of your driving ability to avoid wrecks? Are you that worried about people around you?
I just don't see it as "that bad".
I want to be the one in control of my car. I like to drive. Hell, I've never owned anything but 2x seat sports cars since I bought my first one in high school (exception my old '86 911 Turbo technically had 4 seats, but the rear two weren't functional for human usage). I like to be in control. I like to have a car that stops as well as it accelerates and handles. I don't want a computer intervening in my driving.
That sad thing is...that while I really don't have that problem with some folks that do want the aid....is that having your car be in control as described, will soon NOT be a choice and will be mandatory. It already is trending that way as that just the other day I saw a blurb on TV with a federal official saying this cooperative car, inter-vehicle communication would by law start becoming mandatory.
I dunno. It bothers me with this trend towards autos, and more generally, the fact that the individual is being celebrated less and less in our culture, in favor of everyone is equal, everyone MUST cooperate for the greater good. Cooperation and community DO have a place in our US culture, but the balance seems to be tipping to where we're moving more to be a part of the collective on everything.....and that is NOT where boldness, creativeness and greatness comes from.
OH well....I guess while I still can, I should move on buying that old 70's muscle car, and maybe do a resto-mod on it to improve the handling and braking. But then, I'll be able to have a car sans computer control, a 455 4-Speed engine, and open up the old air restrictions and get something in the 500HP range. Something fun to drive, and that isn't part of the hive mind growing today.
I'll try to do it while I'm still able to....legally.
I never thought the Rush song Red Barchetta would be quite so prophetic.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
"Driving is a dangerous activity. Driving causes way much more death than terrorism blah blah liberal crap snipped.."
Perhaps we should ban cars and see how life goes for you on your pedal bike when doctors and nurses, emergency workers, police, people who work the shops, guys who fix the roads, drive the buses and trucks plus 1001 other assorted activities can't get to work. You see I know this doesn't fit your standard issue left wing drivers-are-evil argument, but unlike cancer, terrorists and "the bogeyman" (how old are you, 12?) driving is far more a force for good than bad. Just an FYI - check out how many people were trampled and killed by horses each year back before the internal combustion engine was invented.