ITS Technologies May Provide Better Travel In Exchange For Personal Data

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

As V2V and V2I technologies slowly make their way through the testing phase and into the mainstream, there could come a day when your commute will go more smoothly than it stands at the moment. That convenience, however, could come at the price of your personal information.

According to The Detroit News, industry officials in attendance at the 21st World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems in Detroit foresee a future where your car and the road have more in common with your smartphone than one may be comfortable experiencing. Though being able to avoid congested roads during rush hour may take some stress out of the work-day commute, there is the possibility for the Facebookification of your journey — filled with ads, ads and more ads — while governments track your every move for whatever reasons they may have.

However, a couple of industry insiders note V2V and V2I could be implemented without the need for personal data, as Continental Automotive senior vice president of interior electronic solutions Ralf Lenniger explains:

For most (intelligent transport system) functions, we don’t need personalized data. If cars are crossing a route, it’s not important who’s in the car, it’s important what’s across the street.

Other insiders agree, but add that such data would still bring the greatest benefit for ITS users, with the caveat that they be allowed to opt-in to gain those benefits.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • Flipper35 Flipper35 on Sep 11, 2014

    I don't see how this can possibly help my commute at all. Well, maybe I can turn a block earlier because there are now TWO cars at the stoplight ahead. Maybe in a big city, but not ruraltown USA.

    • See 4 previous
    • Highdesertcat Highdesertcat on Sep 11, 2014

      @highdesertcat Drzhivago138, I understand. It's a slow day here for me. I have nothing to do since the wife, her sisters and her parents are in conference with the attorney-son-in-law married to the youngest daughter, and the two other sons-in-law and I were not invited (because we're not lawyers). So I have the time to get my thoughts across as meticulously as I can. Hence the typing out of ROTFL.

  • Mcs Mcs on Sep 11, 2014

    I have an even better idea. If someone could just invent a way for you to work from home without actually driving to work. They'd have to invent a low cost computer that people could afford for their homes and then come up with a way to wire it to the computer at work. We'd rarely have to commute to the office if we had something like that.

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    • Petezeiss Petezeiss on Sep 12, 2014

      @Flipper35 I put a condensate pump on mine.. "Little Giant"... American made!

  • George B George B on Sep 11, 2014

    One of the joys of driving is it provides a period of time where you have a good excuse to be left alone. Sorry I missed your call, but I was busy driving. Sure I have a cell phone in my pocket that I chose connect to my car via Bluetooth, but it's my phone and I have some level of control over what it does. I can turn it off. I worry that the people pushing ITS want a data link in my car controlled by auto makers, businesses, or government for their benefit, not mine, that I can't turn off. Imagine a car that nagged you to go to the dealer for service, provided information to police so they could extract fines from you, or simply interrupted your quiet drive with the audio equivalent of street sign and billboard clutter.

  • Petezeiss Petezeiss on Sep 11, 2014

    @George B Pal-o-mine, if you're of an age to appreciate and worry about losing those little islands of silence and serenity when driving, I don't think you need fret about this New Age of Pestilence personally impacting you. It's mostly vapor planning to attract government research grants awarded by technical dummies. I, too, use my car for peace and quiet, almost never use audio toys, and generally just enjoy the muted, mechanical masterpiece that is a modern car. I hate noisy and flashy distractions like I hate stink. But these visionary vulgarities are years and years away from any possible manifestation and how long will we still be driving? Trust in the avarice, stupidity and short attention span of the visionaries to shield us from their dreams. Oh, and don't discount the value of driving smarter and less as we get older. You can keep the car you are happy with a lot longer nowadays and let the kiddies buy the squawking, beeping, oh-so-connected interrogation units.

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