The Man Behind Android Wants To Hand Out Free Dashcams
Outside of Russia, the dashcam uptake has been fairly slow and steady. Now, one man wants to change that by offering free dashcams, but he wants something in return - tin foil hat wearers need not apply.
According to an interview with Wired, Android co-founder Andy Rubin revealed that he is working on a dashcam idea, with the plan to give the product away for free in exchange for the data it collects as you drive.
The reason for doing this is mainly stemmed in the potential for building a real-time map of the world, like a more advanced version of Google Maps’ current system for analysing Android phone data to map traffic density. There’s also the possibility that the images captured on camera could be used to create a more up-to-date Street View equivalent.
Rubin is keeping quiet about what else he’s working on, but for those concerned that we’re hurtling towards a scary, interconnected, robot-filled world, he had this to say:
“I don’t believe in Skynet or any of that stuff,” he says. “I believe, in general, that technology is used for good.”
Comments
I’m in.
Wait.
How admissible is a dashcam in court?
Officer: “do you know how fast you were going back there!?”
Driver: “it’s ok officer. (Points at dashcam) Science b**ch!”
It’s the difference between he-said-she-said, and actually winning a case.
Very. From where I am.
Plus, very useful when the ones whom are guilty starts lying in court/in front of cops.
I’m a bit skeptical about it but I’d like to try it
It should be standard in every new vehicle imo
How about? No…
Count me in!
Rubbish. I’m not handing Google info on where I drive, they can send their stupid little self-driving car to do that.
Got a smartphone? Then you already do
it’s not for google
If your phone is on or has battery life the cell towers can triangulate your position. I have worked for cell phone companies before.
Whether or not you have your phone’s gps activated, the wifi and/or data on it is still attaching itself to every cell tower you pass in case you need to use it. I learned about tracking people by getting subpoenas for cell tower pings when I was a major crimes detective. We used those tower pings to track murder suspects both before and after their crimes were committed. You can even turn your cellphone off and we can get information from it. I have had mine completely turned off (accidentally) while working and it suddenly came on and rang. The caller was a special agent with a well known federal law enforcement agency. I had no idea that was even possible until then. The only way to keep yourself from being tracked is to take the battery out of your phone (which might not work because some have a backup battery for keeping data) or simply leave the phone at home.
Then they will make it mandatory. No more driving fast :(
That’s why track days exist
Where do i have to sign??
Free Stuff ? Sign me in !
It’ll bite you in the ass if you like to drive fast.
Sure, why not? I’m going to drift down the mountains and make a drift show for Street View Live viewers.