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I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that cars are now computers on top of wheels.

mdp2021 4y ago
There is a chance that all of this comes in waves, and that waves will go away...
zamnos 4y ago
How would like like to define "computers" here? Electronic fuel injection was first introduced in 1960's and 70's, and the 70's are when microprocessors first hit the scene. Without the ECU in a EFI car, you're not going to get very far.
- LoveMortuus 4y ago
  Tesla cars can play AAA games on their infotainment system. That's pretty much a normal computer/console right there.
  - mbreese 4y ago
    That’s not the point they were trying to make. The point (as I saw it) was that cars have relied on computing for quite a while. Aside from the infotainment/nav systems, cars have required on board computers for decades. And I think many of those chips are general purpose chips with specialized firmware. So, it’s been fair to think of them as computers (or rather a network of computers) for quite a while.
- rmbyrro 4y ago
  In the context of this news, I'm thinking computer as something you can plug a USB stick and hijack it.
  - zamnos 4y ago
    The first USB flash drive was in the 2000s so at least then. It's hard to find when hijacking via USB was first a thing, if only because the more popular route is either plug in a replacement ECU, which supports tuning out of the box, or via a USB -> OBDII/other non-usb-port on car, which I don't think quite counts.
barrysteve 4y ago
More than that. They have server racks in them and phone home to enable/disable services you bought. Ever want to run away from your loveless marriage with the secretary at work? Your car knows (what you did last summer, lol). So does Elon. Would he impulsively cut you out of your own Tesla, because you insulted his minisub on twitter? What if you stole his favourite secretary? Remotely disabling someone's car is a crime against freedom. Cars are required to keep people alive and working in the US. It's weird watching potential Internet-Feudalism™ roll down into mechanical automobiles.
- numpad0 4y ago
  More like the entire car is the rack. Console in the middle, TOR switch up top, controllable indicators in left and right, storage services down below…

mdp2021 4y ago

There is a chance that all of this comes in waves, and that waves will go away...

How would like like to define "computers" here? Electronic fuel injection was first introduced in 1960's and 70's, and the 70's are when microprocessors first hit the scene. Without the ECU in a EFI car, you're not going to get very far.

LoveMortuus 4y ago
Tesla cars can play AAA games on their infotainment system. That's pretty much a normal computer/console right there.
- mbreese 4y ago
  That’s not the point they were trying to make. The point (as I saw it) was that cars have relied on computing for quite a while. Aside from the infotainment/nav systems, cars have required on board computers for decades. And I think many of those chips are general purpose chips with specialized firmware. So, it’s been fair to think of them as computers (or rather a network of computers) for quite a while.
rmbyrro 4y ago
In the context of this news, I'm thinking computer as something you can plug a USB stick and hijack it.
- zamnos 4y ago
  The first USB flash drive was in the 2000s so at least then. It's hard to find when hijacking via USB was first a thing, if only because the more popular route is either plug in a replacement ECU, which supports tuning out of the box, or via a USB -> OBDII/other non-usb-port on car, which I don't think quite counts.

barrysteve 4y ago

More than that. They have server racks in them and phone home to enable/disable services you bought. Ever want to run away from your loveless marriage with the secretary at work? Your car knows (what you did last summer, lol). So does Elon. Would he impulsively cut you out of your own Tesla, because you insulted his minisub on twitter? What if you stole his favourite secretary? Remotely disabling someone's car is a crime against freedom. Cars are required to keep people alive and working in the US. It's weird watching potential Internet-Feudalism™ roll down into mechanical automobiles.

numpad0 4y ago
More like the entire car is the rack. Console in the middle, TOR switch up top, controllable indicators in left and right, storage services down below…