A while ago, we showed you a system that helps military vehicles blend into the background. Back then I thought wouldn’t that be nice to have for a car? I bet there are occasions where you would prefer that you could simply look like you weren’t there. Tonight, I saw something that looks like the civilian version. It comes from Toyota.
To invited guests only, Toyota showed the Toyota Fun-Vii. Toyota says it is a “concept vehicle that heralds a not-too-distant future” where people, cars and society are linked.
“For instance, the whole vehicle body can be used as a display space, with the body color and display content changeable at will. This allows the entire vehicle to function as a terminal for displaying messages or other information.”
I’d say, put a camera on the other side, and that car will become invisible.
On intense questioning, spokesfolk at Toyota rendered the opinion that the body as display space probably won’t make it into production anytime soon, and that it is being used to dramatize the connective nature of future cars.
Really?
Ok, we won’t get flying cars. But can’t we have invisible ones? Please?
I like to think of TTAC as a reality-oriented automotive publication. Reality’s great. I like living here.
Concept cars, however, are pure PR-flack fiction and I think everyone would be better off if we could all simply agree to pretend they don’t exist.
“This allows the entire vehicle to function as a terminal for displaying messages or other information.”
“HELP! I AM FIRMLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT MY TOYOTA WILL NOT STOP ACCELERATING!”
Hm, this sounds like an awesome safety feature to me.
Followed by an ad for a San Diego club for mature swingers …
Top gear just did a segment on their own camo- car , they used giant flat screen TVs and an hd camera on the opposite side.. The problem was with the diesel genset they had to tow to power it all, bit of a giveaway that.
You guys must drive large vehicles. As a small car guy, all I can think is that man, it’d be nice to be more easily seen by all the inattentive drivers out there.
I was thinking that digital camo paint on a car would be simultaneously cool and incredibly stupid. Cool because it looks great; stupid because, well, do you really want to be difficult to see?
(example)
http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA—Navy/Boeing-F-A-18F-Super/1879835/L/
Actual invisibility seems to have similar problems.
We’ll see this come to pass, I’m afraid. Because there’s a class of scoundrel who will read this as “… can display other advertising information…” As if video billboards aren’t obnoxious enough, now this…
I just want a car that reliably and economically gets me from point A to point B. **SIGH**
John
Did anyone else instantly think of the Simpson’s episode in which Homer paints a building a beautiful sky blue?
$100 says you see this within 5 years on commercial vehicles with advertising on them in major cities everywhere.
For instance, the whole vehicle body can be used as a display space, with the body color and display content changeable at will. This allows the entire vehicle to function as a terminal for displaying messages or other information.
I could see that provoking more than a few altercations.