Too much Auto Tech?

Mike.......It is getting a bit crazy. Technology is good until it reaches the point of distraction. You practically need to enroll in night classes to fully understand new vehicle control functions. The other day I was sitting in my new Tahoe LTZ and just started counting switches for various things that can be operated from the drivers seat. I counted over 50 separate switches before I was distracted and lost count. This doesn't even take into account the other electronic features that do not require driver interaction to operate such as lane departure warning when the seat vibrates, front and rear parking sensors, approach sensors, flashing heads-up warning display on the windshield glass, On-Star safety features, auto deploy steps and more. Nor does this touch on the software controls accessed via the touch screen display for navigation, vehicle setup, Sirius Satellite Radio, and much more. Automation and technology are nearly over the top for me at this stage.
 
In my opinion. Absolutely! We reached that point a long time ago starting with electronic fuel gauges.
I have a Honda civic (2004) none of the other tech in it, but does have the electronic fuel gauge and other useless items. The more stuff, the bigger the lemon too (more stuff to go wrong and create a domino effect when it does) and in my opinion mine is a lemon already without all that other stuff.
 
Sort of makes me wonder if there is a hidden cockpit recorder capturing video and audio for future government and/or insurance company analysis in the event of an accident or some other required purpose. It is being promoted as gesture control of the infotainment features but is that its only purpose for watching me while I drive?
Hmm... :skeptical:
 
Double-D said:
Sort of makes me wonder if there is a hidden cockpit recorder capturing video and audio for future government and/or insurance company analysis in the event of an accident or some other required purpose. It is being promoted as gesture control of the infotainment features but is that its only purpose for watching me while I drive?
Hmm... :skeptical:
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I hope it doesn't have audio! I don't think I could explain all those weird noises.
 
Double-D said:
Sort of makes me wonder if there is a hidden cockpit recorder capturing video and audio for future government and/or insurance company analysis in the event of an accident or some other required purpose. It is being promoted as gesture control of the infotainment features but is that its only purpose for watching me while I drive?
Hmm... :skeptical:
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Actually, I believe there is already such things as trackers hidden in cars from 2012/13 onward. I may be mistaken, but maybe not this time.
 
MusicDirector said:
Actually, I believe there is already such things as trackers hidden in cars from 2012/13 onward. I may be mistaken, but maybe not this time.
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Eric.......Yes indeed, there are data loggers installed in all new vehicles that record speed, rate of acceleration, braking, g-force, vehicle yaw, seatbelt use, headlight use, degree of steering and many other perimeters of the vehicle. My comment was more in line with the possibility of also recording video of the driver and audio of all occupants inside the vehicle with the inclusion of cameras and microphones. With technology the way it is I would not be surprised if new vehicles can or might be surreptitiously wired for WiFi, 4G or satellite connectivity with individual IP addresses that would allow the NSA or other spying agencies to collect information unbeknownst to owners. Just sayin'......

It would not be that difficult to invisibly introduce this technology into vehicles or disguise it inside other features. Heck, I can start my vehicle, flash the headlights, lock and unlock the doors, check my odometer reading, the fuel level and tire pressure, all from the On-Star app on my mobile phone from anywhere in the world. If I crash my vehicle, On-Star gets notified, pinpoints my location with GPS and sends emergency help even if I cannot respond to them trying to contact me via the vehicle's voice communication link. On-Star can locate my vehicle if it is stolen, remotely reduce engine RPM's to reduce vehicle speed or even shut the engine off. Amazing technology. It's not too much of a stretch to include the other activities outlined above. It's a wild, wild world for sure.
 
Double-D said:
Eric.......Yes indeed, there are data loggers installed in all new vehicles that record speed, rate of acceleration, braking, g-force, vehicle yaw, seatbelt use, headlight use, degree of steering and many other perimeters of the vehicle. My comment was more in line with the possibility of also recording video of the driver and audio of all occupants inside the vehicle with the inclusion of cameras and microphones. With technology the way it is I would not be surprised if new vehicles can or might be surreptitiously wired for WiFi, 4G or satellite connectivity with individual IP addresses that would allow the NSA or other spying agencies to collect information unbeknownst to owners. Just sayin'......

It would not be that difficult to invisibly introduce this technology into vehicles or disguise it inside other features. Heck, I can start my vehicle, flash the headlights, lock and unlock the doors, check my odometer reading, the fuel level and tire pressure, all from the On-Star app on my mobile phone from anywhere in the world. If I crash my vehicle, On-Star gets notified, pinpoints my location with GPS and sends emergency help even if I cannot respond to them trying to contact me via the vehicle's voice communication link. On-Star can locate my vehicle if it is stolen, remotely reduce engine RPM's to reduce vehicle speed or even shut the engine off. Amazing technology. It's not too much of a stretch to include the other activities outlined above. It's a wild, wild world for sure.
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All true Dan.

The only way around it?.....drive one of these: :lol: (manual everything and fun too)

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Double-D said:
Sort of makes me wonder if there is a hidden cockpit recorder capturing video and audio for future government and/or insurance company analysis in the event of an accident or some other required purpose. It is being promoted as gesture control of the infotainment features but is that its only purpose for watching me while I drive?
Hmm... :skeptical:
Click to expand...

A lot of this is already going to a large degree. Most cars manufactured within at least the last 10 years have installed a black box that contains far more information about your driving habits then you would probably want to share. In case of a severe accident, the box can be removed and all the info downloaded. If you have a GM product with OnStar, they can turn that on remotely anytime they want and listen in on everything that is being said inside your vehicle in real time. Insurance companies are currently trying to entice customers to install a device in their car that will let them know how you drive by offering you a discount if your driving behavior is deemed to be safe.
 
Too Much Auto Tech. Got that right. I can take apart and rebuild a 60's & 70's small block and big block Chevy engine but today, it takes 30 minutes just to get the stupid plastic engine cover off the engine. Those engine covers just a hunk of plastic to keep you from seeing the cool stuff under the cover. I miss the days on cars where you could open the hood and actually see the ground below the engine. Techy Auto does however have its benefits , gas mileage, comfort and safety but the days of working on your own 'New' car are pretty much over.

Found this which pretty much sums up the techy world of where cars to me. Engine Covers Are The Devil?s Work
 
Double-D said:
Eric.......Yes indeed, there are data loggers installed in all new vehicles that record speed, rate of acceleration, braking, g-force, vehicle yaw, seatbelt use, headlight use, degree of steering and many other perimeters of the vehicle. My comment was more in line with the possibility of also recording video of the driver and audio of all occupants inside the vehicle with the inclusion of cameras and microphones. With technology the way it is I would not be surprised if new vehicles can or might be surreptitiously wired for WiFi, 4G or satellite connectivity with individual IP addresses that would allow the NSA or other spying agencies to collect information unbeknownst to owners. Just sayin'......

It would not be that difficult to invisibly introduce this technology into vehicles or disguise it inside other features. Heck, I can start my vehicle, flash the headlights, lock and unlock the doors, check my odometer reading, the fuel level and tire pressure, all from the On-Star app on my mobile phone from anywhere in the world. If I crash my vehicle, On-Star gets notified, pinpoints my location with GPS and sends emergency help even if I cannot respond to them trying to contact me via the vehicle's voice communication link. On-Star can locate my vehicle if it is stolen, remotely reduce engine RPM's to reduce vehicle speed or even shut the engine off. Amazing technology. It's not too much of a stretch to include the other activities outlined above. It's a wild, wild world for sure.
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I'm not sure about the recording of video and audio of people in a car (I don't know it would be of much use unless they were plotting a crime). However, aside from the stuff you said about seatbelts and lights and all that. What I'm referring to is GPS type tracking of where you go and when and miles driven per trip and all that being used in uncivil ways such as charging one a fee per mile or restricting one's usage and other nasty things.

To think it wasn't that long ago I was making jokes about Microsoft products being installed in vehicles.
 
MusicDirector said:
I'm not sure about the recording of video and audio of people in a car (I don't know it would be of much use unless they were plotting a crime). However, aside from the stuff you said about seatbelts and lights and all that. What I'm referring to is GPS type tracking of where you go and when and miles driven per trip and all that being used in uncivil ways such as charging one a fee per mile or restricting one's usage and other nasty things.

To think it wasn't that long ago I was making jokes about Microsoft products being installed in vehicles.
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From what I have been told, about 96% of all new cars since 2005 have installed a ERD "Event Data Recorder." It's about the size of a deck of cards. it can report if your seat belts are secure and the speed of a vehicle. Big brother is always watching in one form or another.
 
CPP said:
From what I have been told, about 96% of all new cars since 2005 have installed a ERD "Event Data Recorder." It's about the size of a deck of cards. it can report if your seat belts are secure and the speed of a vehicle. Big brother is always watching in one form or another.
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I want a manual override switch, to turn all that junk off, hell, I don't even like it that new cars, when you let up on the accelerator, the engine rpm increase because the engine is over run so to speak and thus uses less gas, give me the old days, let up on the accelerator and she coasts.
 
Tomelex said:
I want a manual override switch, to turn all that junk off, hell, I don't even like it that new cars, when you let up on the accelerator, the engine rpm increase because the engine is over run so to speak and thus uses less gas, give me the old days, let up on the accelerator and she coasts.
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You by chance have a Toyota
 
Adaptive cruise control is another high-tech feature I don't like. I had adaptive cruise control on one of the Lincolns I owned and will never have it again. I did not care for the vehicle's computer making speed adjustments without my intervention. The automatic slowing down was strange but the automatic speeding up was even weirder. I don't want my vehicle to drive itself. I will do that. I am not a lackadaisical driver who can't determine when to slow down, bypass cruise control, or reengage cruise control when I am ready. Having it done for me was disconcerting. That's one high-tech feature I can do without.
 
Gas, brake, and clutch are the only "switches" I need ;)

Cars are no different than audio, the vast majority are happy with ear buds just like the vast majority has no appreciation for things like road feel and balance when driving. So they keep shoving these neato doo-hickies into cars, because making more driver oriented cars doesn't attract most buyers.

My first car was a '71 MGB, headers, coil-over suspension, ridiculous fun. Since, I've been a lifelong Mazda fan, have owned an RX-7 since I was 17. Mazda just knows how to make cars that communicate properly with the driver. But since they've essentially put the rotary engine in mothballs, I'll test drive the new Miata and hope I fit!
 
It is not good to stereo type people but I can just see that car being driven by a nice young French Canadain Girl if it works on hand jesters it would blow it is electric brain in the first ten miles. Sorry if I offended anyone.
 
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