Environmentally Conscious Car [2005]

The rapid auto-mobilization of 20th century America created an uncanny incarnation of 'machine space', uninhabitable in its own nature. A landscape of speed and mobility afforded by automobile created significant cultural transformations. Etiquettes, and customs became less personal and more machine acclimatized. Although geared for utility the space of the automobilebegs for personal experience far beyond mere functionality. The desire to participate in the space of the machine is exhibited through car cultures acts of customization and enhancement. Furthering the culture computing and data collection are creating a new space for modification of the automobile. From the performance benefits of the On Board Diagnostic Systems, to the entertainment provided through televisions in the headrest, the quality and characteristics of the ride has become radically altered, with the introduction of automotive electronics.

Of what value is automotive computing beyond the efficiency of the machine or the appearence of pimping consumer culture?

The Environmentally Conscious Car serves as the tour guide in 'machine space' sharing its perceptions of the world . The device seeks to better understand the abstract world in which it participates. An awareness unit housed in a sensitized mirror-ornament was constructed to attach consciousness to the car. The ornament contains a digital camera controlled be machine vision application running on a PIC chip to share the drivers view to view of the road. the motion of the ride is detected with a 3D accelerometer to monitor bumps, hard acceleration and quick turns to determine the type of space it is in. The Conscious Car then outputs a dynamic graphical representation of it views of the world.

Links:
Real Tech Support for Automotive Electronics: Pimp My Ride with Data.