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My dad has a "smart" radiator. For 5 months he couldn't control it remotely because some server in Norway was down. There should be some escrow system for soft

My dad has a "smart" radiator. For 5 months he couldn't control it remotely because some server in Norway was down. There should be some escrow system for software and service for something as expensive as a car. When Saab Automobile went bankrupt in 2016 a number companies where quick to announce that they'd be able to source or manufacture replacement parts. You can build a brand new 2CV from replacement parts, with an electric motor, and I'm almost certain you can do the same with a VW Bettle. All the "smart" stuff leaves us a risk of having to discard brand new functional vehicles at a huge environmental impact. Unless you drive a lot, it's better for the environment to maintain an old Saab, compared to buying a new Chinese EV.

api 2y ago
There is no reason this stuff needs to be dependent on the cloud at all. It's a mixture of self-serving reasons like wanting to sell subscriptions and the fact that modern developers are so steeped in the cloud that they can't imagine how to do things any other way.
crazygringo 2y ago
Yup, I'm a big believer in regulation-mandated escrow for keeping software servers on and media purchases downloadable for a legal minimum of something like 10 years, and even longer for major purchases like vehicles, household appliances, etc. If you can't maintain it because you go bankrupt or whatever, you've already paid another company to take over. No different from mandatory insurance, basically.