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Losers and noise generators

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by bwilson4web, May 4, 2009.

  1. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Drivers could get a charge out of Chevrolet Volt - USATODAY.com
    I suspect I already know the answer:
    Do the GM hybrids, the two-modes, have noise generators?​
    Near as I can tell, just the losers or likely losers are signing up for noise generators.

    Bob Wilson
     
  2. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    I wonder if the "noisemaker" will have Jetson's sound effects, Battle Star Galactica sound effects, or will the driver be able to pick and choose? Eg: use an iPod to plug into the audio system and download an mp3/wav etc of my favorite sound effect

    I bet this sound effect would make pedestrians jump



    Or. maybe just hook up a small 12 vdc air compressor and mount one of those Kenworth air horns to the roof
     
  3. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    Its not a Kenworth air horn (they have air horns on other trucks, too), its a Hadley air horn:

    Hadley
     
  4. PriusLewis

    PriusLewis Management Scientist

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    Well, the car probably rattles, wheezes and groans. So this is the usual GM attempt to market poor quality as a "feature." :madgrin:
     
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  5. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Yep, that works. BWOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNK!!!!!!!!
     
  6. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    I want mine to sound like a Harley with straight pipes. Just to make sure everyone knows I'm there. :madgrin:
     
  7. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    If the noise were optional:
    [​IMG]

    There are species specific noises that everyone recognizes are "not good":

    • stinging insects
    • vicious dogs and angry cats
    • straight pipe Harley
    But these are amusements compared the safety issue, sound doesn't work. In pedestrian safety, it is at best a placebo and a dangerous one because it is in competition with effective solutions.

    Bob Wilson
     
  8. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    That's an idea - I could record our Persian cat trying to wake us up at 3am and play that back whenever the Prius is moving slower than 15 mph. :madgrin:

    If I recall correctly, doesn't the data show that incidents of SUVs backing over children causes more pedestrian deaths than all of the so called "silent*" cars?









    *EV's and Hybrids. FWIW, I think that the Toyota HSD cars have a distinctive electric motor sound when decelerating and moving away from a dead stop. I think there are some other conventional ICE cars that are harder to detect when there is background noise present.
     
  9. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    Jayman, you're a bad, bad, man. (goes out to swap old and busted baseball cards for hot new Jayman effect device)
     
  10. Nortnarg

    Nortnarg Prius~To go before

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    Maybe just a loudspeaker system so you can tell em to "get off my sidewalk!!"
    LOL!
     
  11. Mike Dimmick

    Mike Dimmick Active Member

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    That's a bit harsh...

    ...placebos are known to outperform some SSRI drugs.
     
  12. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    A lot of folks say that, but once they get to know me, they also claim I'm vaguely sinister too
     
  13. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Well let's see:
    1. 2007 - only three Prius, pedestrian accidents
    2. 2007 - three Prius, at least one other car, and pedestrian accidents
    3. 2007 - 5432 total car-pedestrian accidents including the 6 with a Prius
    So there is a hazard?
    Bob Wilson
     
  14. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    These would be great to install on a Prius. :D It sure beats swapping the stock horns w/ones from Camrys.
     
  15. Mike Dimmick

    Mike Dimmick Active Member

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    Sorry, Bob, I was just trying to be funny (and failing). It was meant to be like saying that comparing thus-and-so knuckle-dragger to a monkey is an insult to monkeys. Therefore comparing noise-generators to placebos is an insult to the effectiveness of placebo.

    Dr Ben Goldacre is a medical doctor who writes on the lack of scientific rigour in a lot of conventional and alternative medicine, who has written some interesting stuff about the fact that, a lot of the time, the experience of being medicated or of being operated on is actually a large part of what improves patient outcomes and in some cases pharmaceuticals actually are no better than this. His book Bad Science has a good chapter on placebos. He also made a radio programme last year:

    My Placebo programme on BBC Radio 4 - Bad Science
    Part two of my Radio 4 show on the placebo effect, 9pm tonight (Monday) - Bad Science
     
  16. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    I am aware of the mind body link and perhaps placebo is not the best anlog for the honorable competition. It is a life and death issue and sometimes I lose my sense of humor. There is something about death that focuses the mind.

    Bob Wilson