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The Network is the Car
An anonymous reader sent us a little JavaSoft
PR Bit
about Java integrated into a concept car. It's mostly full of your
usual "Ra-Ra Change the World" kinda stuff you might expect,
but it has a few interesting notes (Using wireless ether, Ricochet,
and a cel modem to provide different bandwidth streams depending
on location, the fact that the machine could be ported to
Linux, the fact that it could download MP3s to cars)
so its actually kinda interesting.
For my money, Java is, was, and probably always will be a complete waste of time. From what I've been told it's a C/C++ derivative for starters...and I really don't understand why the world needs another one of those. Sure, the shameless wannabes at Sun have been going on about it's universal portability, but it being both compiled *and* interpreted makes it very, very slow...not to mention so processor intensive that it isn't funny.
Also yes, there is the classic lake web applet, which certainly looks pretty...but in terms of actually making anything useful for the Web I personally haven't come across anything in Java that you couldn't write to run much more quickly and efficiently in something else. As for it's use in appliances...well, maybe. But again, I don't see the point...except for possible problems like the Y2K bug, why not just use hard coded chips?
If you ask me, Sun's new slogan for Java should be:-
"Java : The solution for a problem which doesn't exist."
I'm working on a HUD for my car ( http://ro.com/~jeffj/car/) that will read data from the car, like speed and RPM, and relay the information back to a computer and to the HUD. I even found some cheap GPS hardware. All this, coupled with the mapping software thats being worked on at the autoLinux project means that you could have your own custom built system, even with some Java interfaces, in your current car in a few months. Thats much better than on your next car you'll have in a decade. Of course, you'll be able to tweak all the software and interface some low level hardware if you want. That's hard to do with a factory package.
"Luncheon meats make the sawdust in your stomach explode."
Beowulf! ;-)
Think about it! All that precious time stuck in rush hour traffic can be used to model intergalactic gas clouds. The bigger the jam, the more the RAM! Screw the cops, we need Gflops!
We got a great big convoy, hackin' through the night
We got a great big convoy, a Linux geek's delight!
C'mon and join our convoy, we'll take 'em dead or alive
We're gonna net this hackin' convoy and brute force RC5!
Connnvvooooooooy...!
I admit I've been to neither Calgary nor Vancouver, but I don't think anything can out-do Montreal. Just see my rant on the subject - Montreal drivers are the worst I've seen.
Just be careful not to buy a Winbuick.
Jokes aside, companies take this kind of thing seriously. I know a Ph.D./CS who was hired by Daimler Benz to work on this kind of thing.
Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
Bose is already working with a prototype network system that they're planning on imbedding in cars. It's called an "entertainment ring" network, according to a friend of mine who works for them. But removing any one component brings the entire network down. MP3 player's broken? Sorry, can't use you GPS. Doesn't seem like a bright idea to me.
-Ender
Loose things are easy to lose. You're getting your hair cut. They're going there to see their aunt.
Does this strike anyone else as a colossally bad idea?
...
It's already become evident that advertising is one of the main driving forces behind the web; likewise, advertisers will be scrambling to create in-car ads that will put billboards and banner ads to shame.
Yahoo! and other search engines can demand a hefty price for a "keyword" that lets advertisers target consumers looking for a particular item. Online automobile services won't be far behind.
Picture this scenario:
You're driving down the freeway. You get thirsty. You log on to a map service to find the nearest 7-Eleven. Suddenly a rich-media, Shockwave-enhanced Pepsi ad pops up onto your heads-up display, complete with streaming music and video -- you promptly crash into the center divider.
Not to mention online porn, crackers, and viruses
Do we really need more connectivity while we're driving?
Power corrupts. PowerPoint corrupts absolutely.
After checking your car's Web page, the person on the other end of the line informs you that... your car is slashdotted. Damn! Don'cha hate it when that happens?
And what about those times when you're passing a semi, and the garbage collection algorithm kicks in, eh?
-- What you do today will cost you a day of your life.
Sun sponsor the McLaren F1 racing team, and also provide hardware. see here. However, it doesn't use Java in the car, as far as I know.
If they're going to network cars, the first thing we need is a better collision avoidance algoritm.
The standard ethernet method is ok: if your car is in a collision you wait a random amount of time (determined by the speed of your mechanic) and try again. The problem with this is the high fatality rate.
Token ring can't work, because we'd have to replace all our stop lights with 4 way stops. This will be more expensive and kill average throughput.
Regardless of how they do this, I don't want to be considered an acceptable packet loss statistic.
--Shoeboy
It all starts with a 5"x7" LCD touchscreen, head unit and basic car audio functionality.
To this we add CD changers, graphic equalizers, surround sound controls, all the other typical goodies...
The fun starts when you shell out the $2500 for the Navigation package that is coupled with a GPS system and onboard CD-ROM containing the street level map of your part of the country (a'la DeLorme).
Then you subscribe to their Guide service, which gives your car the the functionality of OnStar (or whatever) where you can get directions or reference to something enroute from a live person, declare a medical or automotive emergency to a central dispatcher, etc.
Then you add security, (LoJack with teeth) where if your car is stolen, the Alpine people can trace it, kill the ignition and direct the police to the it. All the while carrying on a conversation with the thief.
Then you add the ability to view DVD movies. I'm sure in the near future videophones and on-line access will be part of the package.
And the nicest thing is that after you have that pricy screen module, the other services plug in as you want them. Saw it at a JoDi's. Sharp, but too rich for my blood. But, if I could plug a PC into it, I just might be persuaded.
-- What you do today will cost you a day of your life.
1. If you compile your car to native code it goes faster.
2. Imagine how cool it would be the next time you lost your car in the mall parking lot. Just do a traceroute....
3. Instead of registering at the DMV, you would use NSI or register.com (ok, maybe that's not so good).
4. The next time someone cuts you off, you just DoS attack their car until they end up on the side of the road.
5. "I locked my keys in the car. What's the root password?"
Save the whales. Feed the hungry. Free the mallocs.