Smarter than me
Sep. 26th, 2023 11:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
offcntrWe get a rental car when we fly back to the midwest, and every time they get more complicated. Sometimes too complicated; I remember the first time we got a keyless ignition fob and had no idea how to start the car.
It seems every time, I have to learn a new bit of tech. In May, we got a car with blind spot indicators on the side mirrors that lit up when a car passed us, and alarmed when I used the turn signal if it thought a car was too close. I also discovered that cruise control is now a variable: If I get behind a slower vehicle on the interstate, the car automatically slowed down to maintain distance. Which is all lovely, except if I'm not paying attention to the speedometer, I can find myself doing 50 mph in a 70 zone when I could just pull out and pass the slow-moving truck I'm pacing.
This time, we had all that an more: specifically, a heads-up display projected onto the front windshield, showing my speed, the speed limit, the setting on cruise control, and, on surface streets, stop signs and other highway indicators. I honestly found it distracting, and was relieved to discover that polaroid sunglasses filtered it out.
I also discovered, driving at night, that the headlights automatically switched from high-beam to low when they sensed an on-coming car. And when it started raining? The windshield wipers automatically changed speed with the intensity of the rain.
Witchcraft!
ETA: Almost forgot: the side mirrors automatically folded down to the door when you hit the fob to lock up. And then opened like butterfly wings when you unlocked.
It seems every time, I have to learn a new bit of tech. In May, we got a car with blind spot indicators on the side mirrors that lit up when a car passed us, and alarmed when I used the turn signal if it thought a car was too close. I also discovered that cruise control is now a variable: If I get behind a slower vehicle on the interstate, the car automatically slowed down to maintain distance. Which is all lovely, except if I'm not paying attention to the speedometer, I can find myself doing 50 mph in a 70 zone when I could just pull out and pass the slow-moving truck I'm pacing.
This time, we had all that an more: specifically, a heads-up display projected onto the front windshield, showing my speed, the speed limit, the setting on cruise control, and, on surface streets, stop signs and other highway indicators. I honestly found it distracting, and was relieved to discover that polaroid sunglasses filtered it out.
I also discovered, driving at night, that the headlights automatically switched from high-beam to low when they sensed an on-coming car. And when it started raining? The windshield wipers automatically changed speed with the intensity of the rain.
Witchcraft!
ETA: Almost forgot: the side mirrors automatically folded down to the door when you hit the fob to lock up. And then opened like butterfly wings when you unlocked.