Ford Patents A Way To Bring Ads Inside Your Car

schizoidman@lemm.ee to Technology@lemmy.ml – 175 points –
insideevs.com
33

Whoever filled the patent obviously didn't consider the optics of this. I'm in the market for a new car and was considering a Ford. This will factor into my decision.

My last Ford was a Focus with the dual clutch transmission, it was a complete fucking lemon (to the point where they were successfully sued over it and have done multiple recalls to fix it). I can excuse an automaker for the occasional shit car if their overall lineup is good and they're honest with customers, but they knew the transmission was majorly flawed and continued to manufacturer vehicles that used it anyway. I've had it refuse to shift while I was driving on the highway before, which left me redlining at maybe 45 MPH. Dangerous and it could have gotten someone killed. I will never buy another Ford.

https://www.freep.com/in-depth/money/cars/ford/2019/07/11/ford-focus-fiesta-transmission-defect/1671198001/

The pictures of stacks of failed clutches in r/justrolledintotheshop were enough to convince me.

Ford had a habit of inventing new systems, but slapping them on the first couple model years of any vehicle before they seem ready.

My dad had a first-gen Explorer Sport Trac with many notorious problems. My favorite was that both inside back door handles broke off it was like being locked in a police car back there.

Not to defend the mega corporation, but companies file patents for ridiculous things all the time that never end up actually being made or used.

Yeah this was probably some rank and file employee that was trying to cash in on that sweet patent filing bonus Ford probably provides

Exactly. A few months ago the headline was a patent of Roku hijacking HDMI to show ads.

I'll save my energy to be pissed off when this garbage actually makes it to market.

If it's MY car why would adverts be in it? What's next, adverts in my shed?

If it’s MY car why would adverts be in it?

Because you're too poor to afford the monthly payment on the ad-free model.

"The system can listen to conversations".

What a timely coincidence! Patent got published basically at the same time Meta's, Google's and Microsoft's "Active Listening" got public as well. πŸ€”

if there's a really good way to bring ads inside your car, I'm happy someone patented it. it means fewer people will use it

Imagine trying to use your finger to click the tiny x of the ad that covered your windshield while you're on the highway

They would never do that, that would be dangerous. But at red lights, or when you first start the motor, or at the gas station? Oh you betcha betcha betcha

as is traditional, one of our corporate innovators seeks to protect citizens (never simply consumers, no, no!) with a defensive patent - sure to now be locked away in a safe until natural corporate patent expiration 1000 years hence.

now and forevermore we shalll sing in praise of this beneficent corporate citizen and their efficacious lawyerly thrust deep into the heart of our once inevitable (but now vanquished) future boring dystopia of ads beamed directly into our brains 24/7.

Maybe, just maybe Ford is doing all these horrid patents so they can just hold on to them so no one can make them... Would actually be pretty brilliant . That being said wayze already has ads.

Where is Ned Ludd when you need him?

Opening your door brought to you by Walmart.

In Ford v. Chevy, there is now a front runner for the shittiest.

OK fine but you better let me watch YouTube on my infotainment then since it's just as distracting

Ok thats it if they do this i will rip out the electronics on the car.

What if you could lease a car in exchange for watching ads and maybe even potentially displaying them for others to see…

No thanks, I'll keep pedaling.

I'd much rather people focus on the road when they're behind the wheel, thanks.