Car technology - the evolution from the digital home to the digital dashboard is happening all around us. I recently blogged about a car ad that talked about car technology to sell the car rather than any standard car features. Then, I read about car makers using the Consumer Electronics Show to show off devices that make it easier for people to use their cellphones in the car, get directions to the cheapest gas station in their area, and even avoid accidents.
There is a booming market for car electronics that we will see spread throughout new cars in the next few years. With the amount of time we spend in our car, it sounds good for moms like us.
If you have a GM, you probably already have OnStar. This decade-old system lets drivers make hands-free calls, track a stolen car, or receive driving directions. What GM started years ago is now making its way into other cars.
An example is Ford teaming up with and Sirius Satellite Radio. This partnership will launch Travel Link, which uses digital-radio signals to beam real-time information from traffic conditions to your local gas stations' lowest prices.
Even More Back-Seat Fun
Sirius is also teaming up with Chrysler minivans, like the Dodge Caravan, to offer back-seat live television. The system, which Sirius calls Backseat TV, lets back-seat passengers watch their favorite Disney Channel or Nickelodeon shows using headphones while front passengers listen to Sirius satellite radio. The feature will cost $470 in addition to the cost of a Chrysler entertainment system built into seat headrests. Backseat TV will also require a subscription to Sirius satellite radio and an additional monthly fee.
Digital Gadgets On Board
Entertainment/Navigation Systems, like Sync, are built directly into cars and let people connect MP3 digital-music players directly into car stereos, make hands-free cellphone calls with Bluetooth equipment, and call up driving directions and monitor engine status through these navigation units.
Safety Goes High-Tech
While some of the car technology deals with cell phones, entertainment and music, other areas of car technology deal with safety, traffic congestion, and the environment. You will start to see tiny cameras that give drivers a view of rear blind spots when in reverse. The images are projected on the rear-view mirrors on cars like the Honda Odyssey minivan.
Other new safety features include cameras for the inside of cars so drivers can keep an eye on their kids in the back without turning around, and navigation devices with even more information for travelers, including listings of area golf courses and Zagat reviews of restaurants.
This trend of moving digital technology more and more into cars is here to stay. Spending an additional $600 for a navigation or entertainment system when you're already buying a $30,000 car is much easier to swallow then spending it outright. So the next time you are in the market for a new car, be sure to do your research on the basics as well as on all the digital car electronics that can make your ride a little smoother.