BMW computer failure traps Thai minister

**splerdu** · May 14th, 2003 10:27 PM

http://www.msnbc.com/news/912445.asp...amp;cp1=1#BODY

I'd be hard-pressed to defend i-drive and their use of Windows CE after this...

**splerdu** · May 14th, 2003 10:29 PM

Full text, in case MSN pull the article out:

Computer failure traps Thai minister
Guards break window to extract minister from BMW limousine

BANGKOK, Thailand, May 12 — Security guards smashed their way into an official limousine with sledgehammers on Monday to rescue Thailand’s finance minister after his car’s computer failed.

SUCHART JAOVISIDHA and his driver were trapped inside the BMW for more than 10 minutes before guards broke a window. All doors and windows had locked automatically when the computer crashed, and the air-conditioning stopped, officials said.

“We could hardly breathe for over 10 minutes,” Suchart told reporters. “It took my guard a long time to realise that we really wanted the window smashed so that we could crawl out. It was a harrowing experience.”

© 2003 Reuters Limited.

**ephraim** · May 14th, 2003 10:31 PM

kasi may computer pa ang kotse nila. :mrgreen: kung walang computer, di yan mangyayari :lol:

**kiper** · May 15th, 2003 12:04 AM

hmm..mukhang malaki ang babayaran ng bmw na damages dun...

**ghosthunter** · May 15th, 2003 10:42 AM

depends... if its a custom job done my a 3rd party... bmw will not be responsible.

**SiAKOL** · May 15th, 2003 11:05 AM

Pwede mo naman buksan ang power door lock manually, nag panic lang agad.

**gjtech** · May 15th, 2003 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by SiAKOL

Pwede mo naman buksan ang power door lock manually, nag panic lang agad.

no din, kasi may double lock mechanism... i tried sa 316i e36 pag na lock ka inside tapos ang nag lock yung alarm hindi ka talaga makakalabas.

**splerdu** · May 15th, 2003 01:02 PM

The problem with the i-Drive is that it's complicated, and relies on unreliable software (Windows CE). I have nothing against using computers for managing a car... airplanes wouldn't be as safe as they are today without computers. What's bad here is you have a complex system running on an unreliable base. If something fails, everything fails and that's very bad... Imagine if Windows crashed while you were driving at 200kph!

The drawback is that modern consumer operating systems do not have a failsafe mode. Windows, MacOSX, even Linux won't know what to do in case a program goes awry and crashes. Flight control systems use a proprietary OS where all points of failure are mapped out. For every possible case, the computer will always have a fallback plan. IMO BMW was incredibly naive to think they can just substitue a consumer OS for what should be a fail-safe system, and using Windows, no less!

**logbook** · May 15th, 2003 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by splerdu

The drawback is that modern consumer operating systems do not have a failsafe mode. Windows, MacOSX, even Linux won't know what to do in case a program goes awry and crashes. Flight control systems use a proprietary OS where all points of failure are mapped out. For every possible case, the computer will always have a fallback plan. IMO BMW was incredibly naive to think they can just substitue a consumer OS for what should be a fail-safe system, and using Windows, no less!

true....its difficult enough to get various systems to work on a car even if all those systems were developed in-house, sasabayan pa nila ng 3rd part software to handle those systems. dami masyadong open variables kapag ganun....