11 votes

Digital license plates finally hit the road in California

6 comments

  1. perfect
    Link
    This seems like technology for the sake of technology; I get that it offers a lot more customizability, but it seems like a waste. The article mentions using the plates as mini-billboards, but...

    This seems like technology for the sake of technology; I get that it offers a lot more customizability, but it seems like a waste. The article mentions using the plates as mini-billboards, but what other functions would a digital plate have over a traditional plate?

    9 votes
  2. dstaley
    Link
    While I think this particular implementation is an answer in search of a question, I think the notion of digital license plates is really interesting. I'd much prefer something like AIS, where an...

    While I think this particular implementation is an answer in search of a question, I think the notion of digital license plates is really interesting. I'd much prefer something like AIS, where an embedded radio transmitter is used to identify vehicles. The only thing I haven't quite figured out is how you'd replace the "use license plate to identify specific vehicles on the road" use case.

    Another interesting thought experiment is to think of what cars would look like if we didn't need to make space for a license plate in the front or back.

    6 votes
  3. [2]
    oliak
    Link
    Ummmm did anyone catch the “targeted marketing” mode? So now my license plate is a digital billboard too? What if I personally don’t approve of the entities being advertised on the back of my...

    Ummmm did anyone catch the “targeted marketing” mode? So now my license plate is a digital billboard too? What if I personally don’t approve of the entities being advertised on the back of my vehicle now?

    Granted they maaaay not implement that particular feature immediately or possible some states will end up choosing to not be so trashy but the fact that it’s already a suggested feature does not bode well imo.

    1 vote
    1. Social
      Link Parent
      What that's discusting.

      What that's discusting.

  4. Chris
    Link
    Great, targeted messaging on a license plate. I wonder what the eventual GDPR process looks like on the back of a car.

    Great, targeted messaging on a license plate. I wonder what the eventual GDPR process looks like on the back of a car.

  5. jackson
    Link
    Honestly, this seems pretty useless. There's no way most of these features are going to make it to the road, as the license plate really needs to be full screen while driving for identification by...

    Honestly, this seems pretty useless. There's no way most of these features are going to make it to the road, as the license plate really needs to be full screen while driving for identification by fellow drivers.

    However, the following features actually seemed interesting:

    • 'STOLEN' indicator for stolen cars
    • Parking validation; pay for parking in a city app?
    • Digital registration, so registration can be instant.

    Not really sure why temp. plates are a feature, since these allow instant distribution of real plate numbers, though.

    I also think dealerships could make good use of these for test drives rather than trusting users to bring them back, they can actually put something on the plate since they usually drive w/o plates anyways.