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IBM Patent Application Describes "Intelligent" Stop Lights That Turn Off Cars
Daily Tech ^ | May 26, 2010 | Shane McGlaun

Posted on 05/26/2010 8:28:35 AM PDT by decimon

IBM patent goes Big Brother

Running red lights and failure to stop leads to untold numbers of traffic accidents around the world. Sitting at a red light with cars idling also burns fuel that really isn’t needed.

IBM has filed a patent application that outlines a system that would turn the motors of a car off at a traffic light to conserve fuel. Few will take issue with green technology that conserves fuel, saves them money, and reduces pollution. However, there is a dark side to the patent application that privacy advocates will not like.

The system IBM is proposing has to have access to the engine of the vehicles at the light to stop the engine. With access to the engine, the traffic lights can not only stop the engine of a driver's car, but it can also determine the duration that the engine is stopped and then when the light is over it can start the motors of the cars up in sequential order so the first cars at the light get to go first. The system would use GPS data to know where vehicles were located at the light.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailytech.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Government; Society
KEYWORDS: bigbrother; economy; energy; fascism; ibm; lping; privacyrights
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1 posted on 05/26/2010 8:28:36 AM PDT by decimon
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To: decimon

This is why I’ll just keep patching my 20 yo POS back together time and time again.


2 posted on 05/26/2010 8:30:08 AM PDT by rightwingextremist1776
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Wouldn’t stopping your car for just a stop light actually use just as much, if not more fuel than idling it?

Sounds like an excuse to me.


3 posted on 05/26/2010 8:30:11 AM PDT by Crimson Elephant
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To: decimon

Actually I take exception with all of the above.


4 posted on 05/26/2010 8:30:22 AM PDT by Kozak (USA 7/4/1776 to 1/20/2009 Reqiescat in Pace)
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To: decimon

It would make far more sense to have a the light broadcast signals to location aware vehicles that they will be stopped for X more seconds, and let the vehicle control systems make the decisions.


5 posted on 05/26/2010 8:31:47 AM PDT by Jack of all Trades (Stop the change - I want to get off!)
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To: decimon

what could possibly go wrong?


6 posted on 05/26/2010 8:32:17 AM PDT by NonValueAdded ("The real death threat is their legislation" Rush Limbaugh, 3/25/10)
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To: decimon

Thanks Big Blue for this hair brained idea.


7 posted on 05/26/2010 8:32:50 AM PDT by shove_it (and have a nice day)
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To: decimon

They’ll have fun trying to turn off my 75 Corvette, or my 57 Chevy pickup, or my 53 Willys.


8 posted on 05/26/2010 8:33:07 AM PDT by Elderberry
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To: decimon

Next, we’ll turn off your cars on Saturday and Sunday to save gas. Then maybe we’ll go even-odd day rationing unless you register as a carpool.


9 posted on 05/26/2010 8:33:10 AM PDT by silverleaf
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To: Kozak

>> Actually I take exception with all of the above.

If you’re riding your bike, or walking, or driving an electricar, like a good green “World Citizen” is supposed to be, this won’t affect you! Now will it?

Get back to work, you owe taxes.


10 posted on 05/26/2010 8:33:21 AM PDT by Nervous Tick (Eat more spinach! Make Green Jobs for America!)
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To: decimon; bamahead

Car jackers will love this


11 posted on 05/26/2010 8:33:22 AM PDT by EdReform (Oath Keepers - Guardians of the Republic - Honor your oath - Join us: www.oathkeepers.org)
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To: decimon

Long way between patent and implementation.


12 posted on 05/26/2010 8:33:26 AM PDT by taxcontrol
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To: decimon
It's in Phoenix - August - 115 degrees - and the light is 4 and one/half minutes. The baby is in the back seat etc. etc. etc. I doubt it.
13 posted on 05/26/2010 8:34:02 AM PDT by Freeper (Obama - Please STOP representing MY country!)
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To: Elderberry

>> They’ll have fun trying to turn off my 75 Corvette, or my 57 Chevy pickup, or my 53 Willys.

I have a Ford. It turns itself off periodically, no Big Brother necessary. :-)


14 posted on 05/26/2010 8:34:18 AM PDT by Nervous Tick (Eat more spinach! Make Green Jobs for America!)
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To: decimon

Your opinion of my new patent. My car pulls up to the light and turns the light OFF.


15 posted on 05/26/2010 8:35:17 AM PDT by Freeper (Obama - Please STOP representing MY country!)
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To: taxcontrol

>> Long way between patent and implementation.

Yeah, IBM is still working on the realization of that patent on going to the bathroom on airliners that they were granted fifteen years ago.


16 posted on 05/26/2010 8:35:42 AM PDT by Nervous Tick (Eat more spinach! Make Green Jobs for America!)
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To: decimon

It sounds like a lot of blocked intersections to me. Cars can roll a little bit after the engine shuts off, and of course you won’t have any power brakes or steering.


17 posted on 05/26/2010 8:35:56 AM PDT by CommonJudge (Captions on, for the hearing impaired, haha)
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To: decimon

Remote control of the ignition switch? Not on MY vehicle.

I have a soldering iron and I’m not afraid to use it.


18 posted on 05/26/2010 8:37:05 AM PDT by Dr.Zoidberg (Warning: Sarcasm/humor is always engaged. Failure to recognize this may lead to misunderstandings.)
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To: Crimson Elephant

Yes, stopping the engine and starting it again likely uses more fuel than the short duration of a stop light. Very stupid idea.


19 posted on 05/26/2010 8:37:11 AM PDT by HerrBlucher (END THE WAR ON LIBERTY!)
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To: decimon

This is bullcrap!....Stick to business I.B.M!


20 posted on 05/26/2010 8:37:22 AM PDT by AngelesCrestHighway
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