Honda has designs on car cam network

Honda looks to be intent on putting a few more eyes on the road (as if there aren't enough already) with its latest bit of automotive gadgetry, a network of car-mounted webcams that'll give you a look at your route before you even roll out of the driveway. According to the patent application, the cameras would be built into the cars' rear-view mirrors, capturing video from the front and back and relaying it along with the car's speed and location to a central server, from which it could then be accessed by other drivers to get an idea of the traffic conditions ahead. Sensing the inevitable flurry of complaints, Honda also appears to be taking some steps to ensure privacy, saying that all video would be submitted anonymously and that the camera's would be switched off when the car's GPS detects that you're close to your home or workplace, although we somehow doubt that'll be enough to make everyone happy. Not content with merely following us humans around, however, Honda also looks like it could be extending its reach into the animal kingdom, saying (we kid you not) that the cameras could even be mounted to pets or wild or performing animals, allowing for such video feeds as "migrating bird cam," "dolphin cam," and "elephant cam." Although they are quick to point out that these feeds would be for entertainment purposes only, and "do not necessarily lie at a traversable location."

[Via NewScientistTech]

[Paul @ Dec 4th 2006 7:05PM]

I have a better idea, put the cameras on the road but high enough to where you can see a long stretch of it to see if cars are backed up or what not. Oh wait they have these already and they are called traffic cams, so why not just expand on that and make them better and easier to access...

Seeing a road from a cars point of view tells me next to nothing about traffic conditions. In most cases I can't even see passed the SUV infront of me, and you won't get a good indication of how fast traffic is moving.

If you look at the camera for 20 seconds and it looks like traffic isn't moving (from a cars pov) it could be just a red light but you cant see that. Plus the 10 million privacy concerns about other people seeing where you are going. Anonymous my ass, everything can be traced at some length of detail.

[eric @ Dec 4th 2006 7:19PM]

i for one welcome our video transmitting automotive overlords.

[Stephen Yuan @ Dec 4th 2006 9:17PM]

Wut if your friend's having some "nice time" in the middle of the back seat, will they be able to remain annoymous as the "web cam" took its routine shots at the traffic?
P.S. You have a Honda Element with blocked out windows so nobody can actually see what's going on in the car.

[John Stracke @ Dec 4th 2006 9:54PM]

The only anonymous regions are near my home or office? What if I'm going to the florist to buy a surprise for my wife?

(Or, worse, for my mistress, if I had one...)

[pvilleSE @ Dec 4th 2006 10:37PM]

I think, if they could somehow guarantee privacy, that this is a good idea, especially for those of us who live in areas where it is not economical to put up traffic cams. An addition that would be nice is a button to tell the system that you are stuck because of an accident or construction or other surprises.

Unfortunately this is a system that relies on people being willing to help each other. Something not too many people are willing to do, so if there is a way to turn it off, which I would think would have to be offered, it won't work nearly to its potential. Not saying that we should not worry about our privacy, just that this would be really nice if all the logistics really worked out.

[carbine18 @ Dec 5th 2006 1:09AM]

bmw already has something like this but it's not using cameras it's using sensors.. IMO sensors are better because you dont have to watch a video of what's ahead u are told what's ahead.

[Gregg @ Dec 13th 2006 8:30AM]

everyone laughs when evr I suggest it, but autos need periscopes to see over pickups, suvs and minivans, this could be relayed to give cam-viewers a better perspective than a simple cam looking 100 feet ahead