Volvo’s pointlessly paranoid heartbeat sensor
A few days ago, the first time I saw the television ad for the new Volvo S80’s heartbeat sensor alarm, I thought it was a parody. It shows a woman walking up to her car in a dark parking lot, then turning away after the heartbeat detector shows that someone is hiding in her car. I’m sure they test marketed this before including the feature, but I totally don’t get it.
Here’s what the Volvo site says about the feature:
The Personal Car Communicator (PCC) is your car key’s smart connection with your Volvo S80 applying the latest in two-way radio technology. When in range, you’ll always know the status of your car. Locked or unlocked. Alarm activated or not. If the alarm has been activated, the heart beat sensor will also tell you if there is someone inside the car. The PCC also includes keyless entry and keyless drive.
So…the heartbeat detector will tell you if someone’s unexpectedly locked themselves in the car? It isn’t going to do anything if it’s turned off, and you’d think anyone trying to break into the car would set off the alarm on the way in, or have a way to turn it off. The least likely thing I can imagine is someone successfully breaking into the car, and waiting there with the alarm still turned on. Even if it works with the alarm turned off, I still don’t see how this is useful.
Volvo has a reputation for safety, but I really did think the ad was a parody or a joke of some kind. I’m obviously not in the core demographic for this feature…but who is?
Tags: volvo, marketing, advertising, security, culture, society
May 7th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
what are we saying about ourselves when we need to use scare tactics to sell autos whats next?
July 25th, 2007 at 3:46 am
I had exactly same thoughts when I saw that ad. WTF is this? Whats the point? Is it usual method for rapist to haxor inside womens cars and wait there until victim arrives?
Im not rapist, but wouldnt it be mutch easier to attack when person is on it’s way to te car? Therefor why not attach tazer or proper gun to key chain?
…or are volvos side windows so tinted that you cant look inside of your car before entering it, if you are sure somebody is after your juicy ass? Im confident they are not, because it would be actually cool/not volvo.
I guess this is mainly for american markets. After 911 safety hysteria is still well alive and kicking. So you practically cant come up “safety device” stupid enough it wouldnt sell like hot cakes
Only use for this I could think of, are assholes, who like to stash their kids and pets inside of car in hot summer. Now you can check out are they still breathing.
February 18th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
ummm fuck nuggets it is just one more thing to save ur dumbass’s. imagiene to night u run in the store for somethin your in a hurry dont lock ur car someone jumps in the backseat to rob u and possibly fuckin KILL you fuck nuggets go suck a chode and keep talkin shit but i would laugh my ass off if one day u got a guy holdin a knife to ur throat when u jump in ur car
February 20th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
“Diesel”, you sound reEeally smart!
February 21st, 2008 at 5:50 pm
“MikeG”, you have a reEally cool tween MySpace name!
February 21st, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Your childish banter is almost as stupid as Volvo’s heartbeat sensor.
February 25th, 2008 at 2:58 am
Looks like we have a serious case of internet tough guy here. Oh and I don’t get how “MikeG” is now a Myspace tween using what seems to be his first name and last initial….no trademark sign or heart or an adjective like hott or cute there at all, the hallmarks of a typical Myspace name.
Cocksuckers.