Your Car Is Reading Your Email 143
mjamil writes "The NYT is running an article about yet another case mod for your auto. This one, manufactured by a company called CarBot, lets you check mail wirelessly, and reads it to you, amongst other things. Amusing sidelines: note the /. reference in the images in the article, and check the fully featured CarBot Web site." Update: 09/10 00:29 GMT by H : This guy has also written "Mastering Internet Video: A Guide to Streaming and On-Demand Video".
Shakespeare? (Score:5, Funny)
"Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow," the voice said.
I'm not sure I could take a Shakespeare quoting car! Next thing you know, you'll be hearing:
Could be worse.... (Score:4, Funny)
"Free Underage Girls!"
"Sir, could you please step out of the car?"
"That was the car talking, I swear!"
Re:Could be worse.... (Score:2)
I'd also like the car to come with a neuralizer feature for those situations.
Re:Shakespeare? (Score:2, Insightful)
Come on (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Come on (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Come on (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Come on (Score:2)
Talking on a hands-free phone turns people into crap drivers because their brain starts doing all the stuff you mentioned. But that's due to the conversation element, your brain is making up for the fact that you can't see the person and get all those visual cues as to just what the hell they are on about. I suspect (though have no evidence or reference for) that listening to what is essentially a recorded message w
Re:Come on (Score:1)
Jaysyn
Re:Come on (Score:1)
Re:Come on (Score:2)
Hmm... I missed the link in between some company offering a product and mass-adoption and carnage.
Wardriving mod? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Wardriving mod? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Wardriving mod? (Score:2)
Oh great .... (Score:5, Funny)
Hello Michael, you have mail
"Size does matter!"
NATURAL PENIS ENLARGEMENT!
GAIN 3 Inches to your Penis, with VPRX penis pills!
CURE IMPOTENCE! GAIN STAMINA! HARDEN ERECTIONS!
100% GUARANTEED RESULTS!
SPECIAL DEAL TODAY!! ORDER 3 AND GET 3 FREE!!!
That is all the mail you have at this time Michael.
Re:Oh great .... (Score:2)
Exactly what I was thinking (Score:1)
Perfect (Score:4, Funny)
KIT: Michael, I couldn't help but notice...
Knight: What's that, Kit? Speak up, now -- we've got a busy day ahead of us!
KIT: Well, Michael, you seem to be getting quite a lot of unusual spam lately. Perhaps --
KIT: Perhaps you've been spending a little too much of the Foundation's research funding on, well, unorthodox internet research?
Knight: Oh, come on now --
KIT: Let me be completely honest with you, Michael -- I've been doing some research of my own, thanks to the new wireless module you installed last week. First of all, let me say that my infrared sensors inform me that your genitalia is within the parameters of normality for a man of your size, according to recent medical databases. Second, I happened to run across some photos of a stripped-down '79 Thunderbird that... well, raised some questions about the programming of my human emotion emulation chip. I experienced a... startling reaction to the graphical data, Michael.
Re:Oh great .... (Score:2)
Social engineering hacks (Score:2)
I see much more potential for social hacking from digrunteled acquaintances. Imagine getting an email like this one and having it read out by the car:
Pronunciation (Score:4, Funny)
I'm pretty sure it will sound like Quagmire from The Family Guy.
Re:Pronunciation (Score:3, Funny)
Or... (Score:5, Informative)
If you're into self installs and whatnot this gives you a lot more flexibility at less cost.
Re:Or... (Score:2)
The ITPS was designed to work with a wide variety of ATX DC-DC converter boards as well as with other computers systems operating at 12V. The main purpose of this board is to provide power sequencing and strict 12V regulation functions for automotive systems.
ignition control??? where from the magical wireless faries???
It's a 12Vdc to ATX power supply, NOT ignition control.
Re:Or... (Score:2)
I think the big question here is Did you even look at the ITPS??
From the Link [mini-box.com] I provided:
The ITPS performs several timing routines and takes actions as follows:
1) Ignition=OFF. Nothing happens.
2) Ignition=ON. ITPS waits for 3-4 seconds then turns on the main 12V rail. This provides enough time for battery levels to reach a stable output. After another 1 second the MCU sends an "ON" signal to the motherboard via the 2 wires connected to the motherboard's ON/OFF pins.
Re:Or... (Score:2)
You are badly abusing the term "ignition". Ignition refers to spark. In other words, this is NOT repeat NOT an ignition module, and has nothing whatsoever to do with ignition systems.
Clearly you do not understand jack shit about automotive electrical. That's okay, most slashdotters know about as much about that subject as they do about how to pick up women without a fork lift. Allow me to enlighten you.
In your typical automobile you have an ignition switch with several positions. The ones they all ha
Re:Or... (Score:2)
The comment that started all of this says "You go buy an M100 with an ITPS for ignition control." It does NOT say ignition switch control. Furthermore that would be an incorrect use anyway. It's accessory power, not ignition switch. The power might not and probably does not even come directly from the ignition switch, but from an accessory power relay.
Stop pretending you know what you're talking about. You don't. No matter how you try to reason, the ITPS does NOT carry out "ignition control". That's han
Re:Or... (Score:2)
I recommended that a person following my post should buy an ITPS at the same time as their M100. You could have come up with other methods to supply clean regulated power to the M100, but this one snaps right into the M100, and provides the additional benefit of using accessory power as a trigger to power the M100 on or off. The way to get accessory power to turn on is to turn the key in the ignition switch. This is what I m
Re:Or... (Score:2)
The original poster did not (seemingly) intend to misdirect and state that the unit controlled ignition on the car.
I think you need to give a little benefit of the doubt, and stop trying to be both a stickler and an expert on everything.
Re:Or... (Score:2)
Re:Or... (Score:1)
Jaysyn
Re:Or... (Score:5, Informative)
I've been looking into this in order to monitor what's going on with my car's standalone EFI system. Since that EFI system's software allows me to build "dashboards" I can do LOTS of interesting displays. I have been collecting URLs and you can see pics of other's progress and discussion here -> http://forum.aempower.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=9604 [aempower.com]
Some URLs I've collected in no distinct order or organization:
http://www.logisysus.com/catalog/product_info.php? cPath=74&products_id=189 [logisysus.com]
http://logisysus.com/catalog/product_info.php?prod ucts_id=334 [logisysus.com]
http://www.kingyoung.com.tw/s620.htm [kingyoung.com.tw]
http://littlepc.com/ [littlepc.com]
http://www.diamondsystems.com/ [diamondsystems.com]
http://www.viaarena.com/ [viaarena.com]
http://www.media-car.fr.st/ [media-car.fr.st]
http://www.everythingusb.com/hardware/index/Griffi n_RadioSHARK_AM-FM_Radio.htm [everythingusb.com]
http://www.xmradio.com/xmpcr/ [xmradio.com] (I bought one, have added optical output, and have purchased TimeTrax!)
http://www.hauppauge.com/html/wintvpvr usb_datashee t.htm> (have one on the way, thanks EBAY!)
http://store.karpc.com/cat-LCD-Touch-Screen--lcdmo nitor.htm [karpc.com]
http://www.mp3car.com/ [mp3car.com]
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/audigy2NX/ [soundblaster.com]
http://www.carbotpc.com/products/ [carbotpc.com]
http://www.powerstream.com/DC_PC.htm [powerstream.com]
http://www.powerstream.com/mini-itx.htm [powerstream.com]
http://www.media-car.fr.st/ [media-car.fr.st]
http://drivesoft.net/ [drivesoft.net]
http://www.gnetcanada.com/ [gnetcanada.com]
http://www.lighttek.com/talisman.htm [lighttek.com]
http://skylab.org/~chugga/mpegbox/MPBS1/ [skylab.org]
http://www.compucar.be.tf/ [compucar.be.tf]
http://www.autonode.com/ig710specs.html? [autonode.com]
http://www.trc12volt.com/ [trc12volt.com]
http://www.intraplexcorp.com/tx3.asp [intraplexcorp.com]
http://www.sfftech.com/ [sfftech.com]
http://www.mini-itx.com/store/ [mini-itx.com]
http://www.dashmatics.com/forum/faq.php [dashmatics.com]
Hopefully some of those will be of help to others considering this sort of thing, I'd be interested in working with others to research this! My plans are to mock up something with the touchscreen and front-end software working with the WINTV, XM PCR, my MP3 collection, GPS mapping, the RLTC software, and my AEM datalogging software. IF it works well (or even halfway well) THEN I'll buy hardware to put IN the car. No sense spending the money if the interface turns out to suck or be too distracting while driving. I'll likely be able to play DVDs too but honestly that's pretty se
Re:Or... Use McCartney's car from 1984 (Score:1)
? about the mini-box (Score:2)
Their screenshot shows Apache, Joe, and a few other OSS packages ready to install. Hrm, have I overlooked something?
Re:Or... (Score:2)
As for how to extract the data from a USB GPS unit, that will depend on the vendor. I personally only know how to extract data via a serial port. I would recommend you try the Earthmate GPS [delorme.com] from DeLorme. You can download an update [delorme.com] to their software online that will emulate a COM port. Then you can just use VB to query the GPS. Use the NMEA 0183 V2.0 standard, here is a FAQ [eoss.org] to get you sta
Will it read slashdot to you... (Score:1)
Re:Will it read slashdot to you... (Score:1, Funny)
Hi web get, inn response two your quest yon about post --- HOLY SHIT that was close! Now where was eye? Oh yeah, your post about dictating comments from your car, eyed like too say SCREW YOU TOO, PUNK. Wait! Don't print that part. That was to the other driver. *sigh* What I'm trying to say is we all ready have the technology to dictate from our cars. Inn fact, I'm doing it write now. Unfortunately,
Yes (Score:1)
Damn, that guy's front seat is full of empty Budweiser cans. What's the number for the highway patrol? Oh wait, I should end that slashdot comment I was writing.
end comment
Accidents (Score:2)
Great (Score:1)
When can I get away? (Score:2, Funny)
Disconnect! (Score:5, Insightful)
I mean, I know something like this might be more for show than anything. "Oh yeah? Well I can check my email in my CAR sucka!" But, it's just a tad ridiculous.
Atlanta Traffic... (Score:2)
Now, I am not saying that the driver would be typing out emails on 285W, but getting up to date on what happened over the evening and so far this morning could definitely give someone the edge.
And think of the MP3 Library a 60GB HDD co
Re:Atlanta Traffic... (Score:1)
(about 8000 songs, extrapolating from the size & content of my library)
Jaysyn
Re:Disconnect! (Score:3, Insightful)
Seriously, quit being a karma whore. As you might be aware, most slashdotters don't have a frigging huge computer integrated into their car, and even if they did, they wouldn't need to use it.
Re:Disconnect! (Score:2)
And the immediate leap to the conclusion that it's so that people can stay in the loop while driving begins. Never mind that it'd be a useful device for business types who'd want to use it while sitting at the Starbucks parking-lot....
Man I'm so sick of the doom and gloom "People are on the net
My car is dyslexic (Score:2)
Just great. (Score:4, Funny)
'Your wife is looking for you, Dave...
You're 6 miles an hour over the speed limit, Dave'
Open the car door, HAL!
Whats next? (Score:2)
Re:Whats next? (Score:1)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/05/14/microsoft_ iloo_was_no_hoax/ [theregister.co.uk]
Re:Whats next? (Score:2)
Mail carriers & AOL (Score:3, Funny)
Whats the Point??? (Score:1)
Re:Whats the Point??? (Score:1)
/.'ed (Score:2, Funny)
Great!!! (Score:1, Funny)
Good Step Forward.. (Score:1)
It's interesting that this was mentioned today; On my way to work this morning, I saw someone reading a book while they were driving!! Kid in the backseat too... These people will only learn when it's too late.
Re:Good Step Forward.. (Score:1)
Re:Good Step Forward.. (Score:2)
I think it's called 'Natural selection'... (the only problem with the 'Car' mode of natural selection being that it sometimes selects innocent bypassers at the same time)
Oh great ... (Score:2, Funny)
Now I will have to listen to my car telling me my life needs viagra
Re:Oh great ... (Score:1)
Oh, at first I read 'my wife'. That was disturbing.
Email is not meant to be real-time (Score:5, Insightful)
This is all wrong. Email is designed specifically to be the form of communication that lets you control when you read it. It's designed around you, not you around it. If you need to reach somebody immediately, use the phone -- that's what it's for.
So having your car read you email is really only useful for a tiny subset of the population. For the rest it's just another way to distract yourself from your own thoughts while driving, or a way to make yourself feel important, or a way to harass your underlings at work ("Jenkins, I just got your email, and that's not at all the way I wanted you to proceed on that project!").
Re:Email is not meant to be real-time (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Email is not meant to be real-time (Score:2)
Still, no reason why it has to be a real-time communication form. You cannot assume that someone is a) at their desk at that moment; b) not too busy doing work to read their email at that moment. Of course, they do assume such things all the time, bu
Re:Email is not meant to be real-time (Score:1)
Why?
BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE LIVES.
At college (been out less than a year)... if I didn't have an away message up everyone assumed I wouldn't respond immediately. And God forbid you walk away from your computer to do something else without putting up an away message in AIM. I couldn't begin t
Re:Email is not meant to be real-time (Score:2)
I hate to nitpick, but if Jenkins reports to me or I'm his direct customer...how is that harassing Jenkins? Sounds to me like I'd be saving either/both of us time and headaches. If you were Jenkins, wouldn't you want to know ASAP? What if I waited until you were done, or worse...until your performance review?
Re:Email is not meant to be real-time (Score:2)
Re:Email is not meant to be real-time (Score:2)
OnStar does this already (Score:5, Insightful)
-S
Damn paperclip (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Damn paperclip (Score:2)
"Here are some product recommendations based on your past purchases at amazon.com:
Would you like to see more recommendations for your selected purchase circle, "Self-described Middle Aged Nympho Dads?"
the wife wouldn't tal
Linux project? (Score:1, Informative)
A. While CarBot uses unique hardware and software, it is essentially an Intel motherboard running Windows XP. You can install any software on CarBot, so long as it is compatible with Windows XP - just remember that software changes are made at your own risk, so please exercise care and caution if you choose to do so!
Anyone know if there is allready a linux project for this? Like MythTV but then with car options.
Re:Linux project? (Score:2, Informative)
thexcar.com [thexcar.com] or DashPC [dashpc.com]
Chop
"You must be new here."
Vitals Missing from the Spec Sheet? (Score:2, Interesting)
Not Impressed (Score:5, Insightful)
The other complaint is with using MS WinXP Home. While XP is fine on a system with a standard keyboard and mouse it's hardly the best interface for a car. At least go with XP Pro so you can RDP into it for updates, repairs, etc.. This really calls for a semi customized OS and GUI (GNU/Linux or *BSD and X) with a tightly integrated voice control system. I don't want mess with a trackpad while driving.
I think a well crafted "car pc" would be nice and would sell. The CarBot, while nice and on par with some other DIY car computers it's nothing special.
Re:Not Impressed (Score:2)
there is NO navigation software for Linux. Yes I know about GPS drive, that can not do any navigation it just looks pretty... real navigation tells me to "turn right in 1000 feet and continue west on lower wacker drive, the next turn will be to the left"
until we get a few people together to make a navigation system linux is really not a part of the car-computer scene... and that sucks. One critical app is missing and nobody is working on it.
Just what I need: (Score:1, Redundant)
Dear Vorgo
I am Barrister John peter esq., a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr. Pitt Tyler , a national of your country...
Um, which way is left again? (Score:2)
Damien Stolarz of CarBot. The equipment can include, from left, a CD changer, CarBot unit and amplifier.
Look at that picture... somebody needs to tell the NYT the difference between right and left.
Driving Without Due Care? (Score:1)
Re:Driving Without Due Care? (Score:2)
Big Deal (Score:3, Informative)
it was expensive as hell as it used a special pager module to recieve the email and then you can send back canned responses (Like a 2 way pager)
the AutoPC has been discontinued for over 2 years now.
Auto-Trader Quote (Score:2, Funny)
Driver: Yes
car begins to read emails
Car: You have one new mail message....message one , from autotrader.com. Mr. Smith, your trade in allowance for your current car has been approved in the amount of $1200 as part of a downpayment on a new Dodge Viper, please .#$@Ewfsdfsdf^C^C^C.
Car: What, how could you, and for $1200
Driver: Let me explain...
Car: Hmmm, seems we are driving on a very high bridge.
[Splashing, and exploding sounds]
That's a hell of a case mod (Score:3, Funny)
Hive mind (Score:3, Funny)
All this worrying about the Micro$oft mind-control ray, but perhaps we should be worried about Slashdot mind-control?
G33K my r1d3!!!11!1 (Score:2, Funny)
Xzibit: "So Bob, we took your old 1972 Honda Civic and fixed it up for you, now take a look and tell me what you think"
Bob: "I can't believe it!! It's got the crunk WIFI in the ceiling!! QWERTY keyboards in the headrests!!! Flat screens in the dashboards!!! And oooh shit, is that an Opteron in the trunk?!? It runs linux?!? OMGWTFBBQ!!!
I still won't be able to g
reading email while driving? (Score:2, Funny)
Why do we do this to ourselves? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Why do we do this to ourselves? (Score:1)
Whitelist yourself (Score:2)
Family, wife, kids, mom & dad (not the annoying kind) and a few select friends. Everyone else takes the back seat when it comes to online, email, IM, even slashdot pals. Those on the whitelist don't abuse it b/c they know it's for important things or emergencies. Kids.. well, they're another story but that's why you raise them correctly, right?
it's about controlling your enviroment, not your enviroment controlling you. you can learn to unplug, and for those of us that enjoy th
Leave messages (Score:2)
Fark (Score:1)
Dyslexic (Score:1)
That or they made a CD changer that looks exactly like an amp, and an amp that looks just like a CD changer.
-Peter
Re:Dyslexic (Score:2)
Temperature handling... (Score:3, Interesting)
And what about closed windows during an extra-hot summer day with the mercury going 40 C? Passive cooling is likely to not work at all.
Is that a song? (Score:3, Funny)
My Car Is Reading My Email
Lyrics from http://www.lyricsfreak.com/t/tom-waits/138944.htmpm thompson
Illegal in some states (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Only 60GB? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Only 60GB? (Score:1)
If I could convert them to MP3, I might actually get an iPod. But I've been having trouble retaining meta info in all the scripts I've tried to write.
Re:Only 60GB? (Score:1)
Jaysyn
Re:but, ? (Score:2)