Earlier I wrote:
>>>  27. Ignition switches on the dashboard.
> seen in movies only [so I guess that counts as "told about"]

then I realized, "hey, I drive a PRIUS now" -- the "ignition" switch doesn't
crank a starter anymore, it just sends a signal to the onboard computer
that "the car should now be on"(*), and could JUST as easily be an actual
"push to start" switch [I even read an article online whereby somebody has
"hacked" their car's system so that it recognizes the sequence "driver door
open; driver door close; seat belt inserted" and starts the car /WITHOUT/
the key -- and to top it off, he's added a proximity scanner/keycard, so he
literally "walks up to his (locked) car, it unlocks /for him/, he opens the
door, gets in, and drives away" all without pulling out a key or hitting a
dongle switch...]

Tom

(*) the keyswitch still reacts like a "normal" car in that you can hold it
"turned to start" until you hear the engine start, but (a) the engine
doesn't always need to start [though this is rare; a recent discussion on
the yahoo group "prius_technical_stuff" explains why], and (b) I've often
flipped it "just enough to register", and 9 times out of 10 it is enough
for the car to recognize the signal and start -- only rarely am I "too
quick"...

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