I just read this article on how the automakers are installing "black boxes" in cars to monitor how your car is behaving (right before a crash) they say. I think it can surely be useful to understand how an accident happened, but it can also used to see everything else you do.. I mean, if you know the exact position of the car at one point, you can figure out where it was driven to, right? This sounds completely 1984 and if I was to buy a new car, I would ask them to remove the box, and if they couldn't... I would take my $$$ somewhere where I don't have to pay them money to give them my privacy. At the last paragraph they mention how the information is private property since it is your car, and thus the black box is yours. Well, since your medical records are barely yours then I wouldn't buy that argument for a second. Some companies/government organization would get their hands on that information through some loop hole somehow.. I don't like the feeling of how it is possible to be tracked what you do all the time. Every purchase with a credit card, where ever you drive, every key stroke on the internet etc.... I mean.. how rock n' roll is that. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060822/tc_nm/autos_recorders_dc
It's bs IMO. Buy a car with one of them in it, cut the wires going to it. BTW, onstar can track you. http://www.tonyrogers.com/news/onstar.htm
Little known fact, blk boxes have been in GM cars for years. Currently they record speed/ seat belt use/ brakes applied/etc. Police and especially ins companies are aware of this but I don't know if they have ever they have ever dragged any results into court...just a matter of time. The current push is to put them into all cars and expand the info base. ou:
Trust no one......buy nothing.....cut all communication devises....this "black box" is alot less harmless that a Govt NERD that lets a laptop get stolen with you financial access number.."social security" number. I havent heard of any GM car owners getting profiled by On Star..... I want one in my company car...so my boss can log on and see that i really do work!!! Is it really that bad.....not to me.....bring it on!! Now if the black box actually drives the car...im out!
This has been a debated issue for a while. Finally the government is trying to regulated it - we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
data from the "black box" has already been used in court to convict a driver for causing a death in an mva, due to excessive speed.
Toyota's have also had this technology for years. It is used to defend the automaker against lawsuits only. We, a Toyota dealer, have absolutely no access to this information. From what I can gather there are only a couple of people authorized to access this information according to Toyota USA. A court order must be given to access the information, and this is done extremely rarely. Case in point: A 2003 Camry owner said that her steering wheel turned by itself causing her to crash into a wall. She gave a story of the car basically taking over and causing the crash. The information said otherwise. The car was going 90 MPH, it then turned completely sideways (YAW sensors picked this up), the brakes were never depressed, and her seatbelt was not fastened upon a final impact. She and her lawyers caved in after hearing the evidence. She was driving like an idoit and lost control. It this case I am glad for the technology. The information kept is very limited in time (I think about 20 seconds or so before incident) so they don't know too much information. BTW, if someone wanted to track you, the technology is already out there and has been for years and years. Accept it folks....
Why should I accept it? I'm not going to accept that someone is tracking what I am doing all the time... I might live with it, but I don't like it, and if I can avoid it, I will try to. If tracking is only done 20 sec pre-accident, court order neeeded, only a few people have access etc.. Well, it sounds to me like that can quickly change depending on how the people who have a say see it fit to be. Let's say that in three years time you take your car to 105 mph on the freeway. Three days later you get a letter asking for your driver's license and a day in court, in the mail. It doesn't sound too unreal to me after reading about this stuff. Then why have a car that can do 100+? I just value the freedom of the individual, especially if it is to be violated by the government or a corporation. I'll probably get an earful, but I have to say that I am surprised that people here in this country take it so lightly, where issues regarding people's individual rights are always a hot topic. If it happened in Sweden (where I am from), where people are more or less like sheep, eh, no surprise.
Good post Krimson. It is scary for sure. It will continue to get worse for sure too. And you are right, things can change quickly to benefit someone elses agenda. I do know this though, it's here to stay.
Bring on the black boxes!, and while there at it, implant tracking devices in all persons. If my boy is kidnapped, I'd love for them to be able to locate him in 2 minutes. If my car is stolen, I'd love for the police to be able to track it down in 2 minutes too. If someone breaks into my house, it would be great if the cops could tell who it was immediately. If the cops know I'm speeding as soon as I do it.... so be it. I don't have a "right" to break the law, and neither does anyone else! If they want to track everywhere I go... let 'em. I live a boring life. I don't go places I shouldn't. They will soon stop watching me. Simple as that. p Last time something like this came up, I'm pretty sure someone told me to move to Russia because of my opinions. :grin: :beer
I read a few years back about the black boxes. Where this is supposed to lead to is that your car will be monitored for proper mechanical operation at all times. One example given was for emissions. If there is a device failure or your car, for whatever reason, is not performing to manufacture specs the car will be deactivated through satellite once you reach your home destination. You will then receive a notice of violation in the mail and the only way to activate the car is have it repaired by ONLY THE DEALER. I also read the Cal. Highway Patrol is pushing for this technology so speeds can be monitored through satellite and they can reduce manpower.
Big Brother IS Watching! With todays technology there's no such thing as privacy...so give em a big smile, tell em how you feel, then show em some love. :moonu: Might as well have fun with it! :TU:
Agreed.....and i know lack of technology is much worse than Uber-Technology, for 300 bucks or so.....your spouse can do the exact same thing..with out your knowledge... ..(your every move)....so.....wich is worse??? Worm can #2 is open..... :grin:
I Don't Like People Knowing about what I do but... My daughter was alone in a car accident and was killed. I don't no why or what really happened 9/18/02. The police did not ask the two people that could have given the answers and sadly the 98 sunfire's black box showed a bunch of nothing. Said her seat belt was detached. Funny they had to cut it off to get her out. I wish in this case we new more. What would I do if I knew? I would hope I would have closure. Mark
I totally agree with Kimson on this. It is none of anyone's DAMN business what I'm doing or where I'm doing it, as long as I don't infringe on the rights of others. If I pay for a car, and I don't want a tracking/ monitoring/evesdropping/spying device in it< I shouldn't have to have one. I SO disagree with the "if you don't do anything wrong, it shouldn't matter to you" theory... :spank: :spank: :blast:
