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[Doth Togo]

Invention: The phantom car
www.newscientist.com

Using in-car satellite navigation on unfamiliar roads, in bad weather or in heavy traffic can be a bore. But soon it could be as simple as following the car ahead, if a patent filed recently by Microsoft takes off.

Instead of studying an on-screen map or listening to spoken instructions, the system lets a driver pursue a cartoon car projected onto the windscreen in front of them. The navigation system checks a car’s location and calculates a route in the usual way, but the driver follows the ghost car as if it were the leader of a convoy.

The on-screen car could also convey traffic and weather information by changing colour or size. And its ghostly cartoon character should make it sufficiently distinguishable from real cars and traffic as seen through the windscreen, the patent says.

 

[GodsTyro]

And if the GPS is off by just 3 feet, you'll drive into a pole.. or off a cliff because the bridge on the map wasn't updated with the latest flood damage reports.

 

[Phoenix]

Gives a whole new meaning to Windows crashes... but at least Clippy will be able to come to the rescue:


"You seem to be driving off a road would you like to:

* Transmit your last will before crashing
* Signal the car behind you to stop following
* Preorder Windows for Cars Cucaracha"

 

[cubicle47b]

And if the GPS is off by just 3 feet, you'll drive into a pole.. or off a cliff because the bridge on the map wasn't updated with the latest flood damage reports.

Why? You're still driving the car, you're just using this image as a guide.

 

[Cauliflower of Love]

Why? You're still driving the car, you're just using this image as a guide.

I was gonna say people aren't that stupid, and now I'm realizing, some people are that stupid.

 

[talking head]

isn't this going to be really hard to see anything else on the road? imagine putting a sticker on your windshield, and focusing your eyes on that while driving. everything else becomes peripheral vision, ie, not in focus, or blurry. you probably wouldn't see pedestrians and small animals and the like.

 

[Doth Togo]

you probably wouldn't see pedestrians and small animals and the like.

gibbage.

 

[Foreign Jackass]

Can't wait to race that fucking ghost. I'll beat it!

 

[Sh0k]

Can't wait to follow my cartoon ghost car :lol

 

[Diablos]

Gives a whole new meaning to Windows crashes... but at least Clippy will be able to come to the rescue:


"You seem to be driving off a road would you like to:

* Transmit your last will before crashing
* Signal the car behind you to stop following
* Preorder Windows for Cars Cucaracha"

:lol :lol :lol :lol

 

[Lord Error]

I was gonna say people aren't that stupid, and now I'm realizing, some people are that stupid.

Stupidity has nothing to do with it. You'll be enabling that cartoon vehicle with the sole intention of following it. If the cartoon car, for any reason, drives off the road - in the low visibility conditions, it's enough to get you confused for a few seconds maybe, which is enough to get you killed on the road. This whole idea sounds pretty dangerous to me.

 

[mrmyth]

This is all Sony's fault. They made Gran Turismo, which caused fifty billion clones and led to Microsoft developing Forza. I won't know who to sue first when some dumbass hits my car.

 

[Hitokage]

Can't wait to race that fucking ghost. I'll beat it!

What's really sad is that there's bound to be one person who will seriously think this.

 

[Ghost]

Thats a stupid idea unless the phantom car can obey the rules of the road, its gonna run lights, go straight through traffic and subconciously encourage the driver to do the same.




THINK HARDER MS.





p.s I hear it comes in 2 versions,
$399 for a phantom car

$299 for a phantom car with no tires.

 

[mrklaw]

Stupidity has nothing to do with it. You'll be enabling that cartoon vehicle with the sole intention of following it. If the cartoon car, for any reason, drives off the road - in the low visibility conditions, it's enough to get you confused for a few seconds maybe, which is enough to get you killed on the road. This whole idea sounds pretty dangerous to me.

yep. And you tend to steer where you are looking. Try driving in a straight line, then look out of the window at something. You'll steer slowly towards it.

 

[Phoenix]

p.s I hear it comes in 2 versions,
$399 for a phantom car

$299 for a phantom car with no tires.

And you can order new car designs for $20 a piece. The car graphics will be protected by encryption, however, so if you try to upload your own - Microsoft will sue you for DMCA violation.

 

[aoi tsuki]

This sounds like a future patent for Revolution. It would be really cool if you could download other ghost cars from the net and try to beat them.

 

[TheOMan]

yep. And you tend to steer where you are looking. Try driving in a straight line, then look out of the window at something. You'll steer slowly towards it.

P.S. Please don't actually try this.

 

[capslock]

Gives a whole new meaning to Windows crashes... but at least Clippy will be able to come to the rescue:


"You seem to be driving off a road would you like to:

* Transmit your last will before crashing
* Signal the car behind you to stop following
* Preorder Windows for Cars Cucaracha"

:lol genius

 

[Grizzlyjin]

Stupidity has nothing to do with it. You'll be enabling that cartoon vehicle with the sole intention of following it. If the cartoon car, for any reason, drives off the road - in the low visibility conditions, it's enough to get you confused for a few seconds maybe, which is enough to get you killed on the road. This whole idea sounds pretty dangerous to me.

Yeah, it really isn't about being stupid. Imagine using this system while you're tired, in addition to the poor driving conditions. I've caught myself going into a "trance" while driving many times, this thing would make matters worse.

 

[Jill Sandwich]

ROOOLLINNNG STAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAART

 

[Miguel]

Can't wait to race that fucking ghost. I'll beat it!

:lol

 

[Drozmight]

Tick... booom.... tick tick booom.