Author Topic: Black Boxes in your automobile?  (Read 478 times)

Offline Ripsnort

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Black Boxes in your automobile?
« on: June 16, 2003, 10:15:10 AM »

Offline LePaul

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Black Boxes in your automobile?
« Reply #1 on: June 16, 2003, 10:17:36 AM »
Surprised we haven't had it sooner

I'm in favor....at least it gives next of kin, law enforcement and others to see what happened those last few seconds....and help but to rest the "at fault" in car accidents, red light runners, etc

Offline Ripsnort

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Black Boxes in your automobile?
« Reply #2 on: June 16, 2003, 10:24:00 AM »
My only fear is escalation of the technology...what if they decide to modify the boxes so when you do your annual emissions test they can do a quick download and issue your years worth of speeding tickets?  Far fetched, but not really a stretch....after all, it'd be saving the taxpayers money by having less patrol men on the roads (Automation)

Offline LePaul

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Black Boxes in your automobile?
« Reply #3 on: June 16, 2003, 10:32:41 AM »
Psst, Rip...check your window....is that a black helicopter?  :p

I hear what you are saying...but in one of my car accidents, fortunately I had a lot of witnesses to prove the person who ran a stop sign actually did so.  Otherwise, it would have been his word against mine, and the evidence of my truck mashed into the side of his vehicle.

I see more pro than con in this sort of thing...but see your point

Maine tried to impose a hi tech emissions system here for car inspections.  Many failed and couldnt afford the required repairs...so they chucked the idea.  Noble clear air emissions thoughts versus real world, human economics.

Offline myelo

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Black Boxes in your automobile?
« Reply #4 on: June 16, 2003, 10:59:48 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Ripsnort
My only fear is escalation of the technology...what if they decide to modify the boxes so when you do your annual emissions test they can do a quick download and issue your years worth of speeding tickets?  


Yea, what’s next? Hidden video cameras in stores to detect shoplifting? Lojack systems to catch car thieves? Home security systems to let you know if someone is breaking into your house? DNA technology to catch rapists and murderers? This technology could get way out of hand.
myelo
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Offline Ripsnort

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Black Boxes in your automobile?
« Reply #5 on: June 16, 2003, 11:04:48 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by myelo
Yea, what’s next? Hidden video cameras in stores to detect shoplifting? Lojack systems to catch car thieves? Home security systems to let you know if someone is breaking into your house? DNA technology to catch rapists and murderers? This technology could get way out of hand.


Point taken ;)

Offline AcId

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Black Boxes in your automobile?
« Reply #6 on: June 16, 2003, 11:11:42 AM »
It deffinetly is a good idea if it is to be used for the purpose it's intended. My wife's friend was just in a accident Friday where someone stopped at a 2-way stop but then punched his tricked out Mustang cobra probably thinking that cross traffic had to stop only to get T-boned by her Mustang (which had the right of way). Her accident was obviously the other persons fault, and she has witnesses. I think it would be a good idea for those cases where fault is not so obvious.

Offline gofaster

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« Reply #7 on: June 16, 2003, 11:36:15 AM »
Its just a data recorder - speed, engine rpm, manifold pressure I would guess are the things being recorded.  What I'd really like to see are in-cabin microphones.

"So did you hear about Marge?  Her husband was fooling around with his secretary and she only just found out yesterday when a clinic called about an appointment.  I tell you, you just never know.... OH SWEEET JEBUS!"


"Duuuude, like this ride is so totally tricked out.  Hey, let's see if it'll push up past 80... OH SWEEET JEBUS!"

"Aw, man. Dropped my cd case.  Let me just reach over past the passenger seat and get it....OH SWEEET JEBUS!"

"Hey, hand me another beer... OH SWEEET JEBUS!"

 "OH SWEET JEBUS!"

Offline nuchpatrick

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Black Boxes in your automobile?
« Reply #8 on: June 16, 2003, 03:53:12 PM »
Umm.. I don't want a black box...

Since I autocross my car.. all that history is recorded.  How could I explain my eratic driving. Even though I'd have proof that I did attend an event. Would that pose me as an at-risk driver?


Sorry, I'm not game for these.

Offline TPIguy

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Black Boxes in your automobile?
« Reply #9 on: June 16, 2003, 05:01:08 PM »
I'm sure it could be easily disabled.

On a similar note I saw something on TV a few years ago. A cop along with motorola? designed a remote kill switch. The switch was designed to be installed on all new cars. At the push of a button a cop could shut down your engine and cause the horn to honk and the lights to blink.

Thankfully, it never made it into any cars.

Offline Drifter1234

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Black Boxes in your automobile?
« Reply #10 on: June 16, 2003, 06:06:14 PM »
The boxes have been in your cars for years.

http://www.techtv.com/news/culture/story/0,24195,3391730,00.html


The black helocopters do exist.



Drftr