The Washington Post reports Chrysler is adding in-car internet access to their hot selling– I mean vehicles. Web access will arrive via cell phone towers; users will need a wireless phone carrier to ensure continuous service. Chrysler is touting themselves as the first car company to provide in-car internetage, conveniently overlooking "ConnectedDrive." BMW's system offered Google access last year; it's expanding to unrestricted www access this year. (Chrysler will be the first to offer internet access in the U.S.) Regardless where it's offered or who offers it, the idea of some n00b playing Halo 3 while blasting down the interstate at 75mph is really scary. Yes, I know there'll be built-in safeguards, but it won't take the MMORPG crowd very long to figure out how to override them. In fact, the hack should be on the internet before Chrysler buyers can access the internet via their car to get it.
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There already exists a device you can use to get internet access in your car via cell phone towers. It is called a cell phone.
Great, now we will have drivers (and I used the term in the loosest possible way)
-drinking coffee (starbucks or mcdonalds, makes no difference)
-texting
-talking on their cell phones
-eating
-yelling at the kids in the back seat
-and now on the frickin’ web
So Americans are going to be shocked and surprised to learn that by 2013, the socialists in charge (no matter which party wins the election) demand that all new cars are computer driven and cost $100,000.
My question is: why the surprise?
Very handy to pass the time while you wait for the tow truck. (Assumes the electical system continues to work). Quality IS right up there on these things right?
All that time spent on CAFE standards should have been used to stop this type of stupidity from moving forward. Let’s watch as the number of collisions increases as this technology gets implemented in more cars. Brilliant.
Thalter: I assume they are talking about using the newer high speed connections. If I am going to subscribe to cellular internet, I am going to use my laptop.
Meno: You forgot the dog and the cigarette.
And I don’t even have power steering or air conditioning. Incredible.
John
Yes, Robert Schwartz. You’re right. Not to mention acts better kept in the privacy of the bedroom – while the car is in motion.
Ever notice how the cup holders are getting larger and larger and larger as the decades go on? That’s because the average fast food soft drink was something like 16 ounces in the 1980’s, and is now something like 64 ounces.
Which also goes a long way towards explaining why a huge majority of we Americans are obese.
Little wonder the Germans particularly, look at us like we are out of our minds for demanding these massive cup holders all over the vehicle.
Those quaint Europeans think drivers should actually be paying attention to the road!
Stop blaming the car companies!!
This “technology” has been out in other countries for years. Self-parking cars aren’t anything new. Internet access via in-car is nothing new. While I’m not saying browsing the web while driving is smart at ALL, there are cars out there that will read you your RSS subscriptions, emails, and so on.
The problem is that, apparently, the typical American doesn’t know how to drive. Or read a manual. Or understand what “WARNING” means. Why do you think DVD players aren’t allowed to show video in the front seats (of course, focused for the passenger)?
We are in a country full of idiot drivers. Take a seat on a bench at your local “main street” and count the amount of drivers that are, for whatever reason, not paying attention to the road. It could be a cellphone, a book, a newspaper, food, kids, etc. Common sense and driving laws go against this, but people still do it.
Don’t blame the devices; cd changers and mp3 players are common nowadays, but back just 10 years ago, I was amazed at all of the wrecks caused by someone reaching down to pick up a dropped CD, or paying too much attention to their head unit. These devices are now standard on many cars.
Again, don’t blame the toys. Blame the fools playing with them at the wrong times/in the wrong ways.
(As far as playing games in your car, unless Chrysler is including a modern 3D graphics card, I don’t think this will be a problem anytime soon.)
I’m all for anything that distracts the eyes from Chryslers’ god-awful interiors.
Menno: I forgot my all time favorite. Applying make-up.
Point taken, offroadinfrontier; if it hadn’t have been Chrysler, it probably would have been GM, or Ford.
Can’t be a coicidence that this changed happened straight after all the Germans left town, though, can it?
Yes, we (the US) are a country full of idiot drivers. I’ve driven in Europe and most American drivers would not last 5 minutes there. You actually have to be competent to drive there.
Oh yes; and pay attention to what you are doing.
Americans are not the only bad drivers, though. Look at the recent 250 car pile-up in fog, in Dubai. Apparently, people were driving 160 km/hr (100 mph) in fog so dense that they could scarcely see the equivalent stopping distance of going 40 km/hr (25 mph).
Worst drivers in the world, red China, I hear.
Don’t those Qualcomm tracking devices installed on a lot of big trucks also provide internet connection that allows drivers to send and get e-mail, etc?
I don’t think Al Gore went to the trouble of inventing the internet for it to be used like this.
Besides, doesn’t everyone have an aircard already?
“I forgot my all time favorite. Applying make-up.”
Whenever I notice that the rear view mirror of the car ahead of me is angled so the driver can see themselves rather than cars behind them I get the hell away from them.
Do Chrysler owners even use the internet? My great aunts and uncles come to mind.
Well as long as you can get on TTAC and write a review of the Chrysler while your in the Chrysler then that will just be brilliant… I mean don’t we have the iphone already capable of this? Do we need more distractions on our roads. I bet the insurance will be higher than a regular car.