“Active Exhaust” by Roush (2015)

The IoT is so exciting because of its potential to make our lives better in so many areas; everything from advertisement to agriculture can be improved tremendously if given the ability to connect the internet. IoT also offers the opportunity for one to control all the goods they use on a regular basis in ways they never have before. Roush’s Active Exhaust System allows users to turn the sound of their Mustang engine from a quiet purr to a throaty roar. The users can choose from several preset modes or create their own custom tunings by attaching their own Wi-fi dongle to the vehicles diagnostic port and using a smart phone app.

The app allows muscle car drivers to be more conscious of those around them by quieting their engine in a residential area for example. Though, it is interesting to consider whether, with this technology, neighborhoods will require muscle car drivers to quiet their famed and beloved engines. Then maybe the law requires that your engines be linked to a server that automatically quiets them in a residential area. Though this application seems common sense, at what point will regulation of what’s beloved and fun go to far When will the IoT give us too much control over the systems we use?