Despite a few stilted moments during the introduction, when the show's PhD-level guests awkwardly welcome themselves (jeez, we're worse than eighth graders), IBM's Podcast, "IBM and The Future of Driving," offers a nice, wonky overview of how (IBM-developed) vehicular IT technologies influence how drivers drive and how automakers make autos. Some of the most interesting moments, in terms of geekness, involve discussions of information systems used to gather data during pre-development phases to help improve car design, and — more disturbing for the libertarian set — to collect driving information for insurance companies' benefit. Telematics, biometrics, and driver-assistance functions also figure prominentally, as do ten-dollar words such as "quiesce" (i.e., to shut up). [Thanks to RF for the tip.]
IBM and the Future of Driving [IBM]
Related:
Drivers Distracted, UK Study Finds [internal]