5 ms·
Apparently, the dictionaries are in conspiracy with the general public, as they also define autopilot as "a device that keeps aircraft, spacecraft, and ships mo
by bakuninsbart 6y ago
Apparently, the dictionaries are in conspiracy with the general public, as they also define autopilot as "a device that keeps aircraft, spacecraft, and ships moving in a particular direction without human involvement". The etymology of the word automatic is also very telling.
Generally we ascribe meaning to words by how people use it, and I'm not sure I'd call marketers people.
- dkonofalski 6y agoIs a car now interchangeable with "aircraft, spacecraft, or ships"?
- callalex 6y agoYes.
- AnthonyMouse 6y ago> Apparently, the dictionaries are in conspiracy with the general public, as they also define autopilot as "a device that keeps aircraft, spacecraft, and ships moving in a particular direction without human involvement". This is describing cruise control.
- dx87 6y agoCruise control just maintains speed, not direction. It'll happily plow you into an obstacle without human intervention.
- AnthonyMouse 6y agoPlowing you into an obstacle is what you get when you maintain your existing course and speed without regard for what's in front of you. "Forward" is a direction. And whether you call it cruise control or not, the definition still matches a thing the car actually does. It has lane keep assist too.
- seppel 6y agoThe thing is: Cruise control maintains the speed without human supervision. Lane keep assist does not keep in a lane without human supervision (hence it is only assist).
- AnthonyMouse 6y ago> The thing is: Cruise control maintains the speed without human supervision. At which point you would immediately veer off the highway and smash into an overpass, so no it doesn't. It maintains speed without human involvement, which is the same thing lane keep assist does. It steers the car to keep it in the lane. Presumably even if the lane goes out to a pier and dumps the car in the sea.
- seppel 6y agoCruise control maintains the speed as long as it is physically possible. You don't need to supervise that it maintains the speed, it is able to do it on its own. It is (usually) even better than a human in maintaining the speed. Of course you still need to control the steering wheel or brake for obstacles -- but that's nothing cruise control promises to control. On the other hand, lane assist is good, but it is not good enough to keep the lane without supervision. It can get confused by strange markings, obstacles, construction work, weather etc. It might fail to keep the car in its lane, although it is easily possible for a human.
- retrac 6y agoNo, that just keeps the car moving. Not in any particular direction.
- bumby 6y agoThe original cruise control developed in the 1950s by Chrysler was coincidentally termed “autopilot” by marketers “Meanwhile, in 1958, Chrysler’s new Auto-Pilot was of course just a cruise control.” https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/history/automotive-history-capsule-chryslers-1958-auto-pilot-56-years-before-teslas-autopilot/ https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/history/automotive-hist...