You have a point, Old_Curmudgeon. However, is that really any different from the fact that everything you might do on your work computer is already being monitored, even checking your stocks from a hotel room with a company laptop? I would guess that the same answer would apply. The way I look at it is that I really don't care if my company knows what I'm doing or where I'm driving when I'm using their equipment while doing their work. On the other hand, although it is not the topic here, I'm not really a fan of MY car reporting my driving habits to anyone but me - under any circumstances.
I hate to rain on any parade, but does it not make sense to have an interlock device that would disable any driver's seat connection when the vehicle is in Drive or in gear on a stick shift? All we need on today's highways are more distracted drivers.
I agree TJ, USB ports and AC outlets would be great. I have been carrying around an inverter in my vehicles for years to run laptops and even a small guitar amp. (so I could practice while sitting in traffic)
From the text above: "A separate application called "Geo Fence" allows owners to define virtual geographical areas to ensure that vehicles follow approved routes. If a designated boundary is crossed, a notification with time, date, and location stamps is made available over the Internet."
GEE! folks..... just what we all need is MORE Big Brother! Where the heck is GEORGE ORWELL now that we really need him???????? God forbid a delivery truck makes a wrong turn OR his cab-equipped GPS device sends him down a one-way street. Then what? "Hey, Lucy, 'you gots lots of esplanin' to do!'"
I'd rather use devices that free me from the vehicle, and components that I can upgrade at will.
What would make more sense is to provide 5V USB ports throughout the vehicle (front seats, back seats, trunk), as well as some reasonably powered 120V outlets for those computer devices that need more than USB power.
Don't tie me down with what you THINK I need, Detroit. Put outlets in the vehicle that use the cords I already have, and let me decide what I want to plug into them.
This sounds like a good idea for contractors who can make use of the multiple connections. I have been using wireless internet service for years and enjoy being able to work on the road and while traveling out of town.
For 3D printing to make the jump from rapid prototyping to manufacturing, engineers will need to find easier ways to move products from their CAD screens to their printers.
Gigabit and PoE are two networking technologies moving ahead in tandem as industrial users power remote Ethernet devices such as IP security cameras at 1,000 Mbps over existing CAT5 cable.
New versions of BASF's Ecovio line are both compostable and designed for either injection molding or thermoforming. These combinations are becoming more common for the single-use bioplastics used in food service and food packaging applications, but are still not widely available.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 5
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
For industrial control applications, or even a simple assembly line, that machine can go almost 24/7 without a break. But what happens when the task is a little more complex? That’s where the “smart” machine would come in. The smart machine is one that has some simple (or complex in some cases) processing capability to be able to adapt to changing conditions. Such machines are suited for a host of applications, including automotive, aerospace, defense, medical, computers and electronics, telecommunications, consumer goods, and so on. This radio show will show what’s possible with smart machines, and what tradeoffs need to be made to implement such a solution.
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
2 
