July 28, 2004
Toyota patents a car with feelings:
Data on the state of the car, the road and the driver is collected and stored in the car's computer, which attributes points to certain factors - like "the occupant reacts to reckless cutting in," or speed, handling angle or brake pressure - that might contribute to an angry response. When a sufficient number of points are accumulated to indicate anger, the computer's software will trigger a reaction in the car's appearance.
Which begs the obvious question: what's the automotive equivalent of a one-finger salute?
(via 
