US To Standardize Car App/communication Device Components 173
coondoggie writes "The U.S. Department of Transportation has high hopes of standardizing the way autos talk to each other and with other intelligent roadway systems of the future. The department recently issued a call for public and private researchers and experts to help it build what the DOT called 'a hypothetical four layer approach to connected vehicle devices and applications certification.'"
Re:What about makeing the EZ-pass system work for (Score:3, Informative)
Standardized toll pass would allow cash-strapped counties to collect tolls from out of county residents. Just like "speeding" tickets, only there is no such thing as driving slowly to get around it.
The Massachusetts Turnpike already does that without the EZ pass. Say you're an out-of-state driver who has never heard of the Mass Pike, so you turn onto a clearly-labeled interstate, follow a one-way road for a little bit, and BAM! Hit by a surprise toll. Better hope you've got cash, sucker, 'cause there's nowhere else to go!
Re:Could only be better if: (Score:0, Informative)
Normally it is the other way round , American manufactures chose their own standard thats different to the rest of the world and your government adopts it out of protectionism.
Re:FTFY (Score:4, Informative)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OnStar#Use_as_surveillance_device [wikipedia.org]
Re:Please give me "get off the left-lane stupid" m (Score:4, Informative)
So in high school I rigged a dashboard switch to the brake lights. If an annoying tailgater decided to touch the back of my car I simply held down the switch...which never failed to open up some space!
You don't really need to do that. Most vehicle brakes light before any significant pressure is applied -- you can usually trip it with just a light touch (not enough to affect speed). Unless your car is very new or the brakes were just replaced, there's usually enough play to get the light to come on.
Re:What about makeing the EZ-pass system work for (Score:5, Informative)
No, it's not. You don't pronounce U.S. as "us". An acronym is when you pronounce it as a word.
acronym
noun
an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word (e.g., ASCII, NASA).
U.S. is an initialism.
initialism
noun
an abbreviation consisting of initial letters pronounced separately (e.g., CPU).