"If you're still looking for a last-minute Halloween costume, may we suggest going as an under-appreciated horror of our time: the technology-laden modern automobile? If you don't know what's so scary about modern automotive technology, check out this mini-documentary from the fine folks at Fern, who pinpoint the exact moment when cars started transforming into smartphones-on-wheels - bringing with then all the deadly distractions that that implies."
"Think: thumbprint-sensitive door handles that don't open in the cold or when vehicles literally catch fire; dashboard data collection that shares (and sometimes sells) info on drivers' immigration status, sex lives, facial expressions, and even photos of what's inside their garage; and basic controls so confusing cars might roll away crush someone if drivers don't watch a four-minute video on how to operate their "crystal sphere" shifter."
Modern automobiles increasingly resemble smartphones on wheels, embedding entertainment, connectivity, and sensor systems that distract drivers and complicate operation. On-board gadgetry includes thumbprint-sensitive door handles that can fail in cold or during fires. Dashboard systems collect and sometimes sell intimate personal data, including immigration status, sexual activity, facial expressions, and photos of a driver’s garage. Novel interface elements and unclear controls can produce dangerous outcomes, such as vehicles rolling away if drivers do not watch instructional videos for unfamiliar shifters. The growing size and mass of contemporary cars magnify harm to pedestrians and others outside vehicles. These trends raise acute safety and privacy concerns.
Read at Streetsblog
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