Current Event 1

http://www.electricnews.net/frontpage/news-9780586.html
Emmet Ryan
ElectricNews.net
August 28, 2006

NEC Electronics, a Japanese electronics manufacturer, has developed IMAPCAR technology, an image processor for cars that can detect objects near the car. The Lexus LS460, developed by Toyota, will be the first car to feature the new processor. The processor will be able to detect vehicles, pedestrians, lane markers, and other nearby objects. The processor will make the car apply the brakes if an object has been detected. Other image processors are currently available, but this processor is five times faster and can perform 100 giga-billion operations per second. "This processor is designed to help manufacturers of automobiles and automotive electronics develop safety systems more efficiently."
This raises the issue of whether or not the car should be able to be controlled (i.e. applying the brakes) by something other than the driver of the car, without the driver's knowledge. I think the processor could become somewhat irritating if the brakes on the car are applied whenever the driver of the car does not want the brakes to be applied. Glitches in the system could cause the brakes to pressed at the wrong time which may lead to an accident. Also, the driver could become so reliable on the system that he or she anticipates the brakes being automatically applied, but if the processor malfunctions, the brakes may not be applied and an accident could result.