Introducing the Open Automotive Alliance

Momentary jubilation followed by 'blah'.

I saw the title and expected something like an alliance working on open source automobiles (e.g., http://wikispeed.org/the-car/).

This is the wrong approach. BMW has the right idea here: define an interface that lets a user's smartphone paint a car's built in LCD(s) and receive input from its joysticks. Then the car becomes agnostic to ever changing network, app, and graphics technology.

I was hoping for a collection of designers and engineers working together to make an open, modular, chassis that could be worked upon. Maybe a discussion about best practices for serviceability, ergonomics, performance, cost-efficiencies, etc.

I had about 2 seconds from clicking the link to the page loading to think about that, and I'm feeling pretty let down. I know that the digital systems play a huge role in cars nowadays, but I just can't get excited about this.... yet?

So we're doing Open Handset Alliance 2.0?

Maybe more will be announced at CES, as hinted here: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-06/google-teams...

Just like the "Open" Handset "Alliance"?

I'm interested in if this will improve embedded devices' often-abysmal security record.

I was hoping for some kind of better, open interface for engine data & other car systems :(