Byton unveils futuristic ‘smart’ car
bbc.co.uk
bbc.co.uk
[1] http://www.sueddeutsche.de/auto/strassenverkehr-tod-durch-ti... (in Geman)
Voice control is often even worse. If something makes me have an accident it's probably when I say "call charlie" and the thing says "Calling crazy ex girlfriend" (without confirmation). That happens.
Sometimes things need to be actual switches as you don't have time to use anything else...
On another note, I find it's useful to mentally replace the term "smart" with "surveillance" to figure out the true purpose of these things.
One thing all these tech people keep forgetting is that the driver is supposed to look out the window. I like to use flying as an analogy. Legally you only need 3 instruments to fly a plane in VRF conditions, you're eyes are supposed to be looking out the window. I think the same is true of cars - you primarily need a speedometer and gas gauge. Everything else is optional and distracting. This idea of an expansive touchscreen spanning the whole dashboard seems absurd. It looks cool, but what's it for?
first, how do they deal with the steering wheel air bag? Which way does the screen flip if it does at all? What are EU requirements for air bags?
second, i have seen this before where a company implies that Tesla or anyone else needs to open up their stations. I am still waiting for the first city, state, or country, to declare such and just force the issue. That we cannot seem to get everyone on board for the same plug this will have to be resolved within the next few years one way or another.
...and let's BBC film and publish a report on the car. Doesn't add up, what's the real reason to not driving outside?
Being a commodity intermediary does not really put them in a position where they can be generous with uncertain investments.
Now you want to dedicate one or two of those parking spaces to charge a car that will be there for 30-60 minutes.
The only way that will be profitable is if the fee to charge your car is at least 10x the average amount a customer spends. Otherwise, what happens is the parking spots fill up and prospective customers go elsewhere and offering car charging actually causes the station to lose money.
OTOH, restaurants offering charging spots could be a moneymaker because now there's a reason to keep customers there longer, and longer stays will generally mean they buy more.
So smart.