(no subject)

[tamakun]

Okay, I've just seen the "BMW Gina" concept car, a car that uses fabric instead of metal plates.

While I'm impressed with the way people are thinking with this concept, there are two things that concern me - one, vandalism would be extremely easy (it is fabric, after all), and two, the engine "opening up" (with a rib-like engine) and the headlights opening like eyes? The machine looks a bit human, and I think that may creep out some people as well.

Comments

[sunhawk.livejournal.com]

Innnnnnteresting!

[nophoto.livejournal.com]

Ah I've seen it this week! I don't think it's pretty but it sure is fascinating!

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

It's definitely a different way of looking at a car, but I can't imagine it to be practical, sadly. But if they can make a malleable metal then maybe this can become more practical. :)

[ginny-t.livejournal.com]

That looks like it has a lot of potential from an environmental point of view. He mentions requiring fewer resources to make. I'm focused on landfills and waste right now, and this kind of car would take up a lot less space than a traditional one. (Also, its customisability would make it less likely to get trashed.)

In addition, working on the premise that it's lighter, it'd be more fuel efficient.

However, the mystique of the car is so ingrained in our culture that there would be a lot of resistance to this, which I think is a damned shame. (I'm pretty cranky about the mystique of wheels, I admit.)

They definitely were going for an exotic anthropomorphic look in the ad. (Also, dude was a little condescending when explaining the acronym. I think the acronym's a little tortured: where is "function" in this acronym? *eyeroll*)

[tamakun.livejournal.com]

"Cranky about the mystique of wheels"? You mean, how the media pushes on us that cars are the ultimate end-all for everyone, the perfect solution (that is, until the oil supply dries up)? ;)

I'm all for anthropomorphizing machines, but I can't shake the fact that this one looks creepy.