Connected cars - your view?
Discussion
I'm writing a piece for The Register (www.theregister.com) on connected cars. It will be about connecting cars to the Internet and to each other.
Proponents and car makers say it will improve safety and traffic management, and increase entertainment options, and will eventually lead to completely automatic cars.
You might beg to differ. I'd be glad to what you think about connecting cars in this way, and how it will affect drivers.
Thanks
PS: I've not been on much recently so for those who've not seen me here before, I used to be editor of PH before it was sold to Haymarket. I'm now freelancing.
Proponents and car makers say it will improve safety and traffic management, and increase entertainment options, and will eventually lead to completely automatic cars.
You might beg to differ. I'd be glad to what you think about connecting cars in this way, and how it will affect drivers.
Thanks
PS: I've not been on much recently so for those who've not seen me here before, I used to be editor of PH before it was sold to Haymarket. I'm now freelancing.
Given the opportunities that already exist for interference with vehicle electronics through poorly secured interfaces (e.g. bluetooth diagnostics), it's not the smartest idea in the world.
Might I suggest you contact someone at the CyberSecurity Centre at De Montfort Uni. ? I know they've done some work on the weaknesses in current vehicle electronics and can probably give chapter and verse on exploits.
Might I suggest you contact someone at the CyberSecurity Centre at De Montfort Uni. ? I know they've done some work on the weaknesses in current vehicle electronics and can probably give chapter and verse on exploits.
Obviously has it's pro's and con's.
There are already Sat-Nav applications for iOS and Android that embrace social networking. Waze let's the user report bad traffic, which then gets highlighted on other Waze users handsets if they are in the same area, or have a route planned through that area. If the connected car systems could integrate the same kind of stuff then that's a positive.
However, I don't doubt for one minute that when you sign up to the services on a 'connected car', somewhere in the small print will be a disclaimer that you allow 'BMW connected systems' (for example) to use your location data for marketing reasons. How long before that data gets sold on to someone else and before you know it you're getting spam emails for restaurants that you drove by a few weeks prior?
/tinfoilhat
There are already Sat-Nav applications for iOS and Android that embrace social networking. Waze let's the user report bad traffic, which then gets highlighted on other Waze users handsets if they are in the same area, or have a route planned through that area. If the connected car systems could integrate the same kind of stuff then that's a positive.
However, I don't doubt for one minute that when you sign up to the services on a 'connected car', somewhere in the small print will be a disclaimer that you allow 'BMW connected systems' (for example) to use your location data for marketing reasons. How long before that data gets sold on to someone else and before you know it you're getting spam emails for restaurants that you drove by a few weeks prior?
/tinfoilhat
I read a similar article on the Beeb yesterday
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21411335
Security and privacy are, like every technology issue, the main areas of concern. Isolating the 'connected' ECU from the car's engine and security systems should prevent it from being used for theft.
It's pretty inevitable that the 'connected car' is coming, it's not something I care very much about. My feeling is that any useful application will get drowned out by pointless crap and advertising every time you drive past your favourite burger joint.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21411335
Security and privacy are, like every technology issue, the main areas of concern. Isolating the 'connected' ECU from the car's engine and security systems should prevent it from being used for theft.
It's pretty inevitable that the 'connected car' is coming, it's not something I care very much about. My feeling is that any useful application will get drowned out by pointless crap and advertising every time you drive past your favourite burger joint.
There are a lot of positives to having car connectivity. The main ones in my mind are related to navigation and finding places when you are driving in an unfamiliar area - a petrol station, a chemist, a supermarket etc.
I don't feel the need to have internet radio in the car, I think what is broadcast plus whatever I can bring into the car on a USB stick or my phone is good enough.
The fear I have with connectivity is that we will have a whole load of people driving down the road checking on Facebook or reading their e-mails. In my book it's about 10 times more distracting than holding a phone to your ear and in many places around the world that's banned on account of being dangerous.
I don't feel the need to have internet radio in the car, I think what is broadcast plus whatever I can bring into the car on a USB stick or my phone is good enough.
The fear I have with connectivity is that we will have a whole load of people driving down the road checking on Facebook or reading their e-mails. In my book it's about 10 times more distracting than holding a phone to your ear and in many places around the world that's banned on account of being dangerous.
SO27 said:
It's pretty inevitable that the 'connected car' is coming, it's not something I care very much about. My feeling is that any useful application will get drowned out by pointless crap and advertising every time you drive past your favourite burger joint.
This. It's coming; it's not something I will seek out; I'm not someone who feels they must be "connected" all the time - I can happily ignore/turn off/leave my phone at home without it being a crisis, for example.Having been given a demo of a prototype active cruise control with connected cars (C-ACC), there are definitely some benefits to be had.
In a convoy of just 3 cars, the normal ACC gave a bit of a hairy experience for the car 3 occupants when car 1 braked, due to the delays while car 2's radar system worked out what was going on, and then again for car 3 which had to apply its braking much harder. Similar to a dozy driver in heavy motorway traffic looking only at the front bumper of the vehicle in front and not looking ahead.
With C-ACC, all cars reacted almost at once (as car 1 tranmits an 'I'm braking signal'), resulting in a much smoother experience.
Whilst the technical challenges are huge, the interference aspect is not really a big one.
In a convoy of just 3 cars, the normal ACC gave a bit of a hairy experience for the car 3 occupants when car 1 braked, due to the delays while car 2's radar system worked out what was going on, and then again for car 3 which had to apply its braking much harder. Similar to a dozy driver in heavy motorway traffic looking only at the front bumper of the vehicle in front and not looking ahead.
With C-ACC, all cars reacted almost at once (as car 1 tranmits an 'I'm braking signal'), resulting in a much smoother experience.
Whilst the technical challenges are huge, the interference aspect is not really a big one.
Edited by jones325i on Thursday 14th February 11:51
manek said:
I'm writing a piece for The Register (www.theregister.com) on connected cars. It will be about connecting cars to the Internet and to each other.
Proponents and car makers say it will improve safety and traffic management, and increase entertainment options, and will eventually lead to completely automatic cars.
You might beg to differ. I'd be glad to what you think about connecting cars in this way, and how it will affect drivers.
Thanks
PS: I've not been on much recently so for those who've not seen me here before, I used to be editor of PH before it was sold to Haymarket. I'm now freelancing.
Whether it's wanted or not it's likely coming.Proponents and car makers say it will improve safety and traffic management, and increase entertainment options, and will eventually lead to completely automatic cars.
You might beg to differ. I'd be glad to what you think about connecting cars in this way, and how it will affect drivers.
Thanks
PS: I've not been on much recently so for those who've not seen me here before, I used to be editor of PH before it was sold to Haymarket. I'm now freelancing.
I guess some obvious issues are:
-big brother. Basically you're every move will and can be monitored.
-an average punter is unlikely to understand or know exactly what data is being shared or when.
-maintenance and complexity of cars.
-longevity of cars. For instance if you wanted you could quite happily jump in a 1960's Mini and drive it. It'd work and for the most part it isn't out dated, it'll stop, go and turn with modern traffic. However a 5 year old PC or smartphone is antique and incompatible with many newer items. Cars built on extensive technology will simply become out dated and incompatible too and much quicker than older simpler cars.
-stalking. Maybe more of a fringe case, but giving cars interior cameras and the ability to track them at all times means any potential stalkers will have a much easier time finding and keeping up with people and potentially spying on them in a more voyeurism type environment.
-driving distractions. Mobile phones are legislated against while driving. But how does an entire built in media and comms centre affect a persons ability to concentrate on the road ahead?
ewenm said:
SO27 said:
It's pretty inevitable that the 'connected car' is coming, it's not something I care very much about. My feeling is that any useful application will get drowned out by pointless crap and advertising every time you drive past your favourite burger joint.
This. It's coming; it's not something I will seek out; I'm not someone who feels they must be "connected" all the time - I can happily ignore/turn off/leave my phone at home without it being a crisis, for example.I like the fact that in the car I can turn my phone off and have a bit of peace.
It's probably a generation thing - I'm off an age of phoning a friend and the answer simply being "sorry, he's gone out" or walking into a pub to meet people at a time arranged some weeks ago and being the first to arrive - and then being comfortable enough with the situation to order a pint a wait for 10 minutes, on my own, with no mobile device to bury my head in and - God forbid - striking up a bit of (live) 'stranger chit-chat' with the barman / the person next to me at the bar. Seriously, ask someone in their early 20's when was the last time that happened to them and they'll not only draw a blank, but positively go pale just thinking about being stuck in that social situation...
marshalla said:
Given the opportunities that already exist for interference with vehicle electronics through poorly secured interfaces (e.g. bluetooth diagnostics), it's not the smartest idea in the world.
Might I suggest you contact someone at the CyberSecurity Centre at De Montfort Uni. ? I know they've done some work on the weaknesses in current vehicle electronics and can probably give chapter and verse on exploits.
Thanks for the steer - I just got off the phone with them - they tell me (and tell me I'm naive by all means) that people have been found playing Angry Birds while driving. Strewth. Might I suggest you contact someone at the CyberSecurity Centre at De Montfort Uni. ? I know they've done some work on the weaknesses in current vehicle electronics and can probably give chapter and verse on exploits.
Honestly I don't like it. I like technology, computers etc, but I want my car to be car, something that is fun to drive, not "Soulless Automation". Same as I don't want to talk to people on the phone, go on the internet when I'm driving. You can kind of get away from it all in a car.
Trouble is, I reckon a lot of people in the world don't really care about driving, and see there car as an domestic appliance, and will probably love a car that can drive itself while they can waste more time on facebook.
Trouble is, I reckon a lot of people in the world don't really care about driving, and see there car as an domestic appliance, and will probably love a car that can drive itself while they can waste more time on facebook.
Edited by Noesph on Friday 15th February 14:36
Edited by Noesph on Friday 15th February 14:48
manek said:
So far, being connected (inbound and outbound) means
- better satnav and traffic avoidance
- possibly better warnings of and from vehicles ahead
but
- more driver distraction
- faster obsolescence
- potential security and privacy risks
Any other thoughts?
</tongue in cheek>It might end up running some form of Microsoft software</tongue in cheek>- better satnav and traffic avoidance
- possibly better warnings of and from vehicles ahead
but
- more driver distraction
- faster obsolescence
- potential security and privacy risks
Any other thoughts?
In all seriousness, the tech, whilst it might work in urban environments will be next to useless on the wider road network.
I mean trying to use mobile data (3/4G) is utterly pointless on a train currently, so how would this "connection" work, mobile Wi-Fi? Pico cells? Loosely coupled network nodes? That's a heck of a lot of swapping of credentials unless the TCP/IP traffic is tunnelled through something proprietary... To what gain, and more importantly, who pays for it?
Matt UK said:
...ask someone in their early 20's when was the last time that happened to them and they'll not only draw a blank, but positively go pale just thinking about being stuck in that social situation...
Not all of us 
I for one am quite happy being 'unconnected', though I do find myself checking facebook and the like on my phone quite often, I often switch it off just to get away from it.
I think having the option for internet based connectivity in cars is a good one, as long as it's not forced down throats and it can be used only when needed or wanted.
As for connecting cars in close proximity e.g. braking when the car ahead brakes. I'm not too sure on that. I have a feeling that this would lead to people relying on the system rather than paying proper attention, and I'm not sure this would work well until all cars have the system. Phasing it in would be the hardest part I think.
Also, I like to drive, and it seems that driving is slowly getting taken away from us.
Noesph said:
Honestly I don't like it. I like technology, computers etc, but I want my car to be car, something that is fun to drive, not "Soulless Automation".
Speed addicted said:
I'd be most worried about being caught speeding and the eventual loss of control in the driving process.
This is the thing that puts me off.Sadly Joe Public would probably love it.
Remote access would be acceptable (like the Mclaren F1) for remote diagnostic/repair.
I suspect the real driving force (pardon the pun)is advertising and big brother voyeuristic motives.
I dont want my car recommending restaurants, tyre merchants e.t.c whilst i am driving. I also dont want big brother checking my speed, routes and movements at their discretion.
I have recently gotten so fed up of targeted advertising and being spammed i have stopped using my android phone and gone back to an old nokia from dusty drawer.
I'm sure someone else will have mentioned it but virus/hacking e.t.c. is rife (i know as i have been known to hack gadgets
) I'll take the hack to turn off the system thanks.
I must be getting old. I used to love all this stuff!
I suspect the real driving force (pardon the pun)is advertising and big brother voyeuristic motives.
I dont want my car recommending restaurants, tyre merchants e.t.c whilst i am driving. I also dont want big brother checking my speed, routes and movements at their discretion.
I have recently gotten so fed up of targeted advertising and being spammed i have stopped using my android phone and gone back to an old nokia from dusty drawer.
I'm sure someone else will have mentioned it but virus/hacking e.t.c. is rife (i know as i have been known to hack gadgets
) I'll take the hack to turn off the system thanks.I must be getting old. I used to love all this stuff!
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