Automakers, Software, Bugs, and Me

I love Lexus drivers. They simply scream uppity.

Like the previously owned Jaguars and gawd help us — BMWs ... those cars that say 'Asshole' driving down the road.

I love to see that pretentiousness those sixteen thousand dollar used vehicles instill in the polyester attired would have beens that drive them.

"Yeah, I drive a Lexus."

What they neglect to tell you is it's used and was depreciated long before they acquired it.

Me, I drive a truck. My personal preference is as analog as they can be manufactured; but I have been kowtowing to the technological tidbits included in it as well.

I was reading in the Christian Science Monitor regarding software glitches in some Lexus vehicles sold in the US.

It seems that buggy software messed up their information and entertainment systems.

The piece goes on to pose the relevant question:

What if this happened in a self driving car?

Lexus struggles with software bug: What this means for automakers
Christina Beck
Christain Science Monitor
June 8, 2016

So would we want a company whose technology is largely dependent on embedded systems of the computer variety rising to their level of incompetence and inadvertently creating an easily hackable or virus attackable personal conveyance to be exploited at the most inopportune times while we're traveling hither, thither, or yon ?

It is my personal observation that the wonder which is the evolving "self driving" automobile may well use a bit of extended development and testing.

I keep having these visions of the high speed crashes going down totally beyond the control of the occupants at the hands of some hacker or inept programmer imparting their funk into the mix.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for technology. Just make sure it's "ready for prime time" before you spring it on a populace wanting the latest in self driving rides.

1950s era driverless car concept