Toyota UA-LAC

[Scruggs Family]

Grant broaches the unspoken bottom line of putting a computer between humans
and what they intend to control.  Like pilots of contemporary high
performance aircraft have discovered they only have a vote regarding what
the aircraft does.  Same situation when your car's traction
control/stability control kicks in. you are now only a voting member
regarding what is going to happen next.  For example, if my '10 Highlander
is sitting on a slick surface and I (intentionally) put the go pedal to the
floor the traction control will only allow the engine to produce enough
power to approach tire slippage.  (BTW. with three open differentials this
is what Toyota has decided constitutes '4WD.')  

 

We trade authority for what someone else has decided constitutes sufficient
capability.  Should this trend continue perhaps someday only those with
proper licensing will be allowed to turn off the traction control in our
high performance cars.  Computer controlled speed limits anyone? 

 

Gross

 

 

From: Grant Lenahan [mailto:glenahan at vfemail.net] 
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 11:06 AM
To: Brett Dikeman
Cc: Scruggs Family; quattro at audifans.com
Subject: Re: Toyota UA-LAC

 

name calling aside, which may be jolly good fun, does anyone truly doubt
that the plane ingested two Canada Geese?

Have you (the collective you) ever looked at the skies around La Guardia?

Do you know the size of Canada Geese? Been attacked by one on a golf course
lately? They're BIG.

Its a miracle this doesn't happen more often.

For the recor, i dont much like computer controls when they over-ride my
actions. But i also admit that modern cars run better, longer and with fewer
problems than old ones. Remember the good old days - like points?

Grant