Surveillance State in a New Van

[jesse_the_k]

Back in August we got a new van — and wow howdy the surveillance state has arrived at a car dealership near you. The place we bought it tried seven times to get our email — so they could send updates to the car. It comes with three months of free satellite connectivity and defaults to connecting to any mobile device within its red doors.

It's eager to listen via Siri, Alexa, or Hey Google. It compares the posted speed limit with our actual speed, and flashes red when we exceed it. If we hadn't turned off all that connection, the system is perfectly poised to issue speeding tickets (and deduct the fines from the credit card on file).

It's got a 10.1 inch screen to display navigation (actually helpful) as well as images from one or more of its (so many I can't count) front, rear, side and inside cameras. For example, this screen grab shows the compiled overhead view of front, sides, and center as well as the yellow and red guidelines it imposes on the rearward path. This tech could serve a purpose — for someone like me who can’t crane her neck to see in my "blind spot" — but there are another 21 reasons I don’t drive, and MyGuy isn’t about to break a 56-year neck craning streak.

We turned off one of its parking alarms because the narrow walls of our 73-year-old garage made it wail every time we left the premises. Now when we turn it on, it flashes a yellow "Park Sense is Disabled!" warning.

One excellent feature is that tapping a single switch tucks the side mirrors against the body, adding a full 12 inches to the garage-entry tunnel. If you neglect to tap the switch again once you're out in the street, they automatically rotate into position after sufficient forward travel.

The good news is there's room for MyGuy to drive my chair up steep ramps into the back, Bella likes it, the seats are comfortable, and we've already scratched it (so we no longer need to be hyper careful).

Any vehicular news in your life?

Comments

[sovay]

If we hadn't turned off all that connection, the system is perfectly poised to issue speeding tickets (and deduct the fines from the credit card on file).

Aaaaaaaaaah.

I'm glad it has the other features you actually want.

Values around privacy

[jesse_the_k]

seem to be changing. I'm horrified by these "features." I can't imagine sharing that much info with the world (she writes in a public blog post).

I've chatted with some younger folks who don't know any other way of being than surveilled.

Re: Values around privacy

[sovay]

I can't imagine sharing that much info with the world (she writes in a public blog post).

There's a difference between choosing to share information and having your data scraped without your input.

I've chatted with some younger folks who don't know any other way of being than surveilled

I hate that.

[mific]

Well that sounds terrifying! I'm still sometimes confused by my VW Golf as the indicators and wipers are reversed because it's European!

US wipers go in two directions

[jesse_the_k]

...back and forth.

Or are you talking about the stalk on the steering wheel?

[sheafrotherdon]

Oh my lord, the idea that it would send speeding tickets!!!

I keep looking longingly at used Rav4s at my local dealer (only online, it's too much of a pipe dream to go in person) and wow, they're pretty.

They sure are!

[jesse_the_k]

And actually a great vehicle if you have to drive places iin the midwestern Winter.

Re: They sure are!

[sheafrotherdon]

Yes! And the one I drove this summer was so zippy.

[sonia]

May your new vehicle serve you long and well! And may you continue to guard your privacy and phone from its clutches.

It's not that I was really contemplating getting a car after 20 years without, but the surveillance makes it a hard no. If I get tired of biking around, I'll get an e-bike someday.

E-bikes

[jesse_the_k]

have exploded ^h^h^h become so popular on my path. Something about blocked supply chains for Chinese analog bikes during the pandemic.

I'm very impressed by the station-wagon level cargo bikes that can carry 3 kids plus groceries. That's a great use case for an e-bike.

[anais_pf]

I am still happily driving my 2007 Mitsubishi and dreading the day I'll have to replace it with something that has bells and whistles I do not want.

Sadly

[jesse_the_k]

US-made cars just don't last that long. May the pancake gods keep your car running like silk.

[princessofgeeks]

Congratulations!

And I'm with you. I don't particularly want a computerized car!!! Or one that surveills me!

I'm trying to imagine someone

[jesse_the_k]

who does want that level of surveillance. Could it feel like safety?

[jerrbear_81]

I might be receiving one from my parents. Our dad asked my older sister to measure my wheelchair's height. They've been expressing an interest in getting me a better vehicle

[jesse_the_k]

Be sure to add your head and shoulders to that measurement!

It was such a relief to find a decent powerchair with a fold down back -- without that, we'd have to get a conversion vehicle, which wouldn't fit in our 1950s garage.

[jerrbear_81]

I have an IV pole on my chair that goes higher than my head, so we measured it there

[seascribble]

Goddddd, my husband's car is 10 years newer than mine and has SO MANY jingles and cameras, it's horrible. Someone spray painted a little yellow square on it within the first month of zir living and parking here, which made zir SO MAD, and that's why I will drive my little 2011 toyota yaris until the wheels fall off. I don't give a shit what happens to that paint job and she's not telling anybody shit about my speeding.

[jesse_the_k]

The Yaris is the Western answer to the Trabant, and I mean that in the best possible way -- indestructible!

Oh! and congratulations!

[seascribble]

Thank you!