[colug-432] Sync

[Angelo McComis]

> On Mar 1, 2014, at 9:30 AM, tom <thomas.w.cranston at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Opportunity for abuse?

I don't really think so.

Today you have radios, nav systems, fuel/battery/engine control
systems all connecting via proprietary interfaces, various wiring
configurations, using various techniques for power and grounding and
what not.

I don't want to confuse this with in-car internet / because that
already exists since Chrysler made 3G modems an option a few years
ago.

Moving the car's internals to Ethernet means everything runs on a
standardized communications protocol, standardized wiring,
power-over-Ethernet as an option, as is standard 12VDC, and all sorts
of possible future expansion because the car is now exposed as an open
standard platform. Since a standard Ethernet hub/switch is all that's
needed to interconnect the vehicle, the wiring chassis is a lot less
expensive to build.  It will be interesting when the machines do start
becoming self-aware... *cough* sky-net... *cough*

Abuse? Yes, but not by much more than we have today with things like
Progressive insurance's gizmo, the new Automatic device
(http://www.automatic.com)... Others yet to come that interface to the
onboard diagnostic port.

Would we worry that our gps coordinates, speed, direction, programmed
destination in our navi could all be snooped and logged by big
brother? Possibly. But that's possible today. It isn't necessarily
something that suddenly evokes worry. It's already here.

I think the benefits would outweigh the risks in the end.

Angelo