Its really quite a shame that Ford isn't using the results of these student's hard work. You'd think some smart VP would realize this is a golden opportunity for free R&D.
In fact, i'm surprised that Ford, GM, Honda, Toyota, and every other major car manufacturer doesn't host their own Future[insert car genre here] Competition. Off the shelf solutions to difficult problems and all you have to do is sponsor the competition! What better reason do you need?
Furthermore, an HR manager with some sort of ambition could use these competitions as recruiting fields for future employees. So skilled development teams get recognized and properly employed. More solutions and everyone seems happy so far. Now someone poke some holes in my arguement!
So in short, Car Companies need to pull their collective heads from their rectums in order to change with the times.
PREVIEW BUTTON! Check it out sometime. For the really courteous folk, there is the option of writing a response/comment in a text editor and then pasting it to the comment box AFTER SPELLCHECK AND A QUICK PROOFREAD.
It shouldn't take more effort to READ your comment then it took you to WRITE your comment. Just a thought.
Thanks for your future forethought of others.
...and you'll realize that this sort of technology could save lives, clear names in court, and be the damning evidence for a scumbag felon like the one in this story.
I would go even further and suggest that a specialized device should be deployed in ALL cars on the road. Use GPS to register speed, position, and direction you're traveling in. Use simple sensors to monitor conditions of the car like RPMs, oil pressure, fuel level, safety systems readiness, state of the engine, interior conditions, anything else anyone can cram into it, and even a voice recorder. What better way to know if someone was driving under the influence? A voice recording device that records for several hours and continually overwrites itself...so that only recent data will be there.
So the firemen and police can show up, take a few polaroids, yank the black boxes from the cars involved, clear the streets and be done with it. "Its all in the box, so clam up and let the judge decide."
It works for the Airline Industry, why not autos too?
Because some paranoid delusionals scream that "THEY" are watching and somehow might use your driving patterns to stalk you...and revoke your personal rights...which is bullshit, because most of people out there have nothing and know nothing that would interest anyone in power. Even if you DID actually KNOW or HAVE something, it wouldn't be any problem to track you with satelites (80% of the earth's surface covered round the clock) and ground agents so its not like you're handing "them" an ability they don't already have...
I've got nothing to hide, so for me the benefits FAR outweigh the risks. I'd much rather be able to stand up in court and shout "Take a look at the box and you'll see I'm telling the truth!" rather than "NO REALLY ITS ME TELLING THE TRUTH NOT HIM!" Which sounds like a better situation to you?
And if it does turn out to be the final straw that hands the Globalization Dominator Illuminati Clan of Orwellian Oppression Corporate Interest Committee on Taking Away YOUR Rights their final weapon of surveilance against the unsuspecting Proles, I'm sure a group of technologically intelligent human beings like the Slashdot Community would be able to find some way to subvert/circumvent such a device.
So lets see what all you psuedo-anarchists and "underground" anti-gov types have to say to this:D
How many hard luck stories need to get printed on this website before we'll all just consider it covered. You're not the only one with problems involving employment. Be happy you're gainfully employed, read the PREVIOUS slashdot articles related to your question, decide on a course of action and get on with your life.
I live in Southern Holland right where Belgium, The Netherlands, and Germany come together. All along the freeways and farmland these majestic propellers turn in the sky...i find the effect rather calming...
It seems to me that most people are speaking a little too soon. The economy rests on one key factor. The mindset of consumers.
For the average American Worker/Consumer, it's business as usual these days. The guy on the national news talking about the falling stock markets and currency exchange rates doesn't mean a damn thing to Joe Blow the Car Mechanic. His car payment, house payment, medical bills, and trips to the grocery/electronics/warehouse/wholesale club/golf/porno store, and his requests for services on his car/house/computer/toaster/TV are what DRIVE the american economy. IT is one very small facet of a much larger system.
If you look at the general situation that America is in, you might feel different about the future. A few points...
A) America is now in position to guide (control) the development of the most oil-rich regions of the planet (Major Diplomatic/Military presence in Kazakhstan, Successful Invasion of Iraq, Veiled threats directed at Syria, Uprisings and Pro-American/Reform demonstrations in Iran)
B) After consolidation of US control in the Middle-East, America's Economy will spring upward reminding all of a time circa 1996.
C) Examine the resources, infrastructure, technological base, skilled labor pool, military power, research and development capabilities, and the sheer volume of money changing hands within the borders of the United States.
and finally....
D) Bush's Reign is finite...
So in short, while things might appear to be quite bad right this moment because the euro's up on the dollar, it still doesn't take away from point C (see above)
America's economy will continue to run in cycles for the forseeable future. So just pray this is the worst before it gets better.
Before you start comparing the United States to other 1st world nations you have to ask yourself a few questions to make absolutely sure you have some idea what you are talking about...
A) Have you ever lived outside the United States for longer than one Month?
B) If Yes, Have you ever had to deal with a Non-U.S. Gov for anything important?
C) If Yes, Do you know anyone that was born and raised within this country?
D) If Yes, What does this person think about their system of government/taxation/health care/social services?
If you've answered yes to questions A through C, have a positive response to question D and still think you have a case...then proceed to quote your statistics and post links that support your line of thinking.
HOWEVER, if you are someone that has done nothing but read a few blurbs on random websites about Swedish adventures in bureaucracy, there's a small possibility you have no idea what you're speaking of.
I was born and raised in Southwest Missouri. I also used to complain about the state of America's economy/tax system/foriegn policy...and then i moved to Europe, married a Dutch girl, and had personal experience dealing with European Authorities. After a time, I realized that America may not be perfect, but its loads better than the various ad-hoc systems of europe. Sweden's system may look good on paper, but if you haven't experienced it for yourself, you have no clue what you're talking about.
Slashdot Mirror
Its really quite a shame that Ford isn't using the results of these student's hard work. You'd think some smart VP would realize this is a golden opportunity for free R&D.
In fact, i'm surprised that Ford, GM, Honda, Toyota, and every other major car manufacturer doesn't host their own Future[insert car genre here] Competition. Off the shelf solutions to difficult problems and all you have to do is sponsor the competition! What better reason do you need?
Furthermore, an HR manager with some sort of ambition could use these competitions as recruiting fields for future employees. So skilled development teams get recognized and properly employed. More solutions and everyone seems happy so far. Now someone poke some holes in my arguement!
So in short, Car Companies need to pull their collective heads from their rectums in order to change with the times.
PREVIEW BUTTON! Check it out sometime. For the really courteous folk, there is the option of writing a response/comment in a text editor and then pasting it to the comment box AFTER SPELLCHECK AND A QUICK PROOFREAD. It shouldn't take more effort to READ your comment then it took you to WRITE your comment. Just a thought. Thanks for your future forethought of others.
...and you'll realize that this sort of technology could save lives, clear names in court, and be the damning evidence for a scumbag felon like the one in this story.
:D
I would go even further and suggest that a specialized device should be deployed in ALL cars on the road. Use GPS to register speed, position, and direction you're traveling in. Use simple sensors to monitor conditions of the car like RPMs, oil pressure, fuel level, safety systems readiness, state of the engine, interior conditions, anything else anyone can cram into it, and even a voice recorder. What better way to know if someone was driving under the influence? A voice recording device that records for several hours and continually overwrites itself...so that only recent data will be there.
So the firemen and police can show up, take a few polaroids, yank the black boxes from the cars involved, clear the streets and be done with it.
"Its all in the box, so clam up and let the judge decide."
It works for the Airline Industry, why not autos too?
Because some paranoid delusionals scream that "THEY" are watching and somehow might use your driving patterns to stalk you...and revoke your personal rights...which is bullshit, because most of people out there have nothing and know nothing that would interest anyone in power. Even if you DID actually KNOW or HAVE something, it wouldn't be any problem to track you with satelites (80% of the earth's surface covered round the clock) and ground agents so its not like you're handing "them" an ability they don't already have...
I've got nothing to hide, so for me the benefits FAR outweigh the risks. I'd much rather be able to stand up in court and shout "Take a look at the box and you'll see I'm telling the truth!" rather than "NO REALLY ITS ME TELLING THE TRUTH NOT HIM!" Which sounds like a better situation to you?
And if it does turn out to be the final straw that hands the Globalization Dominator Illuminati Clan of Orwellian Oppression Corporate Interest Committee on Taking Away YOUR Rights their final weapon of surveilance against the unsuspecting Proles, I'm sure a group of technologically intelligent human beings like the Slashdot Community would be able to find some way to subvert/circumvent such a device.
So lets see what all you psuedo-anarchists and "underground" anti-gov types have to say to this
You're neglecting one point though...The IRS can only do this if you retain your American Citizenship... So its all or nothing
How many hard luck stories need to get printed on this website before we'll all just consider it covered. You're not the only one with problems involving employment. Be happy you're gainfully employed, read the PREVIOUS slashdot articles related to your question, decide on a course of action and get on with your life.
I live in Southern Holland right where Belgium, The Netherlands, and Germany come together. All along the freeways and farmland these majestic propellers turn in the sky...i find the effect rather calming...
It seems to me that most people are speaking a little too soon. The economy rests on one key factor. The mindset of consumers.
For the average American Worker/Consumer, it's business as usual these days. The guy on the national news talking about the falling stock markets and currency exchange rates doesn't mean a damn thing to Joe Blow the Car Mechanic. His car payment, house payment, medical bills, and trips to the grocery/electronics/warehouse/wholesale club/golf/porno store, and his requests for services on his car/house/computer/toaster/TV are what DRIVE the american economy. IT is one very small facet of a much larger system.
If you look at the general situation that America is in, you might feel different about the future. A few points...
A) America is now in position to guide (control) the development of the most oil-rich regions of the planet (Major Diplomatic/Military presence in Kazakhstan, Successful Invasion of Iraq, Veiled threats directed at Syria, Uprisings and Pro-American/Reform demonstrations in Iran)
B) After consolidation of US control in the Middle-East, America's Economy will spring upward reminding all of a time circa 1996.
C) Examine the resources, infrastructure, technological base, skilled labor pool, military power, research and development capabilities, and the sheer volume of money changing hands within the borders of the United States.
and finally....
D) Bush's Reign is finite...
So in short, while things might appear to be quite bad right this moment because the euro's up on the dollar, it still doesn't take away from point C (see above)
America's economy will continue to run in cycles for the forseeable future. So just pray this is the worst before it gets better.
Well I say touche sir. Although I didn't really have Germany in mind. Occupied countries have an easier time administrating.
...that Greenspan is intentionally doing this to undercut the Euro. I find this doubtful, but I'd like it to be true
Before you start comparing the United States to other 1st world nations you have to ask yourself a few questions to make absolutely sure you have some idea what you are talking about...
A) Have you ever lived outside the United States for longer than one Month?
B) If Yes, Have you ever had to deal with a Non-U.S. Gov for anything important?
C) If Yes, Do you know anyone that was born and raised within this country?
D) If Yes, What does this person think about their system of government/taxation/health care/social services?
If you've answered yes to questions A through C, have a positive response to question D and still think you have a case...then proceed to quote your statistics and post links that support your line of thinking.
HOWEVER, if you are someone that has done nothing but read a few blurbs on random websites about Swedish adventures in bureaucracy, there's a small possibility you have no idea what you're speaking of.
I was born and raised in Southwest Missouri. I also used to complain about the state of America's economy/tax system/foriegn policy...and then i moved to Europe, married a Dutch girl, and had personal experience dealing with European Authorities. After a time, I realized that America may not be perfect, but its loads better than the various ad-hoc systems of europe. Sweden's system may look good on paper, but if you haven't experienced it for yourself, you have no clue what you're talking about.