|
Screeching Antilock BrakesThe latest zaniness in television advertisements comes from car manufacturers. Volkswagen and others have been running ads touting the antilock braking system (ABS) in their cars. In a representative spot, a couple realizes that they have accidentally returned a risque home video. The driver slams on the brakes. The car comes to a screeching halt, and the screen cuts to the text Antilock Brakes.Wait a minute, the car's antilock brakes bring the car to a screeching halt? I thought the point of the ABS was to prevent the tires from locking up, hence keeping the tires rolling and preventing rubber-burning stops. How could marketers go so wrong, highlighting a feature by mixing in the exact audio effect eliminated by that feature? |