Wednesday 28 May 2014

"Microsoft is to start building its own self-crashing cars"

From the BBC:

Microsoft is to start building its own self-crashing cars, rather than modifying vehicles built by its rival Google. The car will have a stop-go button but no controls, steering wheel or pedals.

Co-founder Paul Allen revealed the plans at a conference in California.

"We're really excited about this vehicle - it's something that will infuriate its users by suddenly stopping for no apparent reason," said Allen, director of the company's self-crashing project.

He added that after punching the 'stop-go' button for several minutes, users' will have the ability to "tear out the power cable in a fit of rage, slam the doors and then return after five minutes once they have simmered down - it should normally work fine again after that".

But some researchers working in this field are investigating potential downsides to self-crashing car technology. They believe they could make road rage worse, as people gathered round their inexplicably stationary vehicles while in a filthy mood might start turning on each other.

5 comments:

A K Haart said...

"as people gathered round their inexplicably stationary vehicles while in a filthy mood might start turning on each other."

Then someone will remember it's the second Tuesday of the month.

Mark Wadsworth said...

AKH, second Tuesday? You've lost me. Does Windows work on that day?

ageing man said...

And should Apple decide to make a car.... It will look fantastic, cost a fortune, and you will void your warranty if you drive it in the rain..

Mark Wadsworth said...

AM, the other problem with Apple cars will be you can only fuel them with Apple fuel, use Apple tyres etc etc all of which will cost three times as much as comparable fuel or tyres from other manufacturers.

ageing man said...

very true, and everyone will think you look a smug git for driving it..... but but that having been said, you will feel like such a smug git driving it.... as you see all the microsoft car drivers crawling along the hard shoulder with their cars moving soooo slow, despite starting the journey very fast... and with the warning sign on the dash board flashing up..... you need to update your car....

Let's just thank the lord computer companies don't make cars ! ....yet...