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Comments:
Alex - 2004-07-19 07:26:46 Well, I don't think it's too hot.* * * * * * * * * * * * tom - 2004-07-19 11:32:22 It's not clear to me that the device will permanently the car's computer. When I worked for Ford some time ago when the first electronic engine controls were being developed, the engineers testing the things found that the EEC module (electronic engine control) would mysteriously quit for no apparent reason at seemingly random times, and the car would glide to a stop. Afterward, they could restart the car and it would proceed along as though nothing had happened. Someone later noticed that it always happened near 18-wheelers, and they found that CB radios equipped with illegally powerful amplifiers used by some truckers would electronically swamp the EEC module and cause it to quit. The engineers increased the shielding around the EEC module, and the problem went away. The point of this little ramble is that the device reported by the Guardian may not cause permanent damage. If this device can target a specific car, and it does not cause permanent damage to the computer, I think it's a good alternative to high-speed chases.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-19 13:07:21 It should be said that I know next to nothing about cars...and the article doesn't say that car computers will be un/damaged--but it sure doesn't seem like a good way to tune it up. I don't know if unexpectedly killing someone's car (when the driver doesn't know it's coming) is all that much safer than high speed chases in general.* * * * * * * * * * * * Eric - 2004-07-19 13:23:12 Stopping high-speed chases isn't about protecting the driver. It's about protecting everyone else.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-19 13:41:12 I'm not in the habit of trying to outrun the cops, but I don't think its a good idea for cops to have the ability to switch off a car they're not driving. In my (manual) Sunfire's case, I'm fairly sure the steering would lock up, and if I were going around a curve, that could result in a rollover instead of just continuing and getting pulled over eventually by being cut off by cop cars/spike strips, &c. Nope, I don't agree with this at all.* * * * * * * * * * * * Eric - 2004-07-19 13:58:09 Much like not shooting into crowds, I would suspect this device would be used when the opportunity presents itself.* * * * * * * * * * * * Tuesday - 2004-07-21 10:24:09 Oh God, can I please have a version of this thing that would blow out my neighbor's car alarm/thumping bass?* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-21 10:27:10 Now, there are some useful applications. :)* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-23 14:02:37 incidentally, I note that no cop zapper in the world can stop my new Easy Racer Sport, not that I plan on getting into that much trouble. :)* * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: |