As the technology industry continues to evolve by leaps and bounds, automobiles are increasingly being brought into the fold and integrated with things like smart-phones, digital music players and even new implementations and uses of GPS. The top high-tech accessories for your car generally fall into three broad groups, each with their own impressive gadgets and advancements.
Mobile and Media Integration
What started with the iPhone has only continued to expand with the advent of Android phones and BlackBerry devices: the smartphone craze has arrived. These phones do more than just make phone calls or send text messages: they play music, come loaded with applications, and have built in GPS and internet connectivity.
One of the most unique, and most helpful, uses of this new phone feature set is the Viper SmartState vehicle location system. SmartStart is built into a car’s security system and communicates with GPS satellites to help users locate their misplaced car — and in a big parking lot, that can make all the difference. But it goes even further, allowing users to unlock the trunk, lock or unlock the doors, and even remotely start the car so that it’s pre-heated or pre-cooled upon arrival.
Then there’s the Parrot Asteroid Car Receiver, which allows drivers to play their favorite tunesover a car’s stereo without a CD or even FM Radio. The receiver can play songs from USB flashdrives, SD or microSD cars, and iPods or iPhones. Additionally, it can sync contacts from a connected phone and allow the driver to voice dial contacts while on the road, doing double duty as a hands free system.
And finally, for the text messaging addict or Facebook magnate, there are voice-activated systems that will read text messages to the driver, and allow the driver to speak a text message into the phone and reply to their contacts. It’s even compatible with Facebook, allowing for speech-to-text status updates on the fly.
High-Tech Security
Sure, cars come with security systems, locks, and keys. But in a high-tech world full of new products and innovations, it’s the fingerprint that’s being introduced to keep cars safe and secure. The Fingerprint Car Security System can recognize multiple fingerprints, allowing or disallowing each person the ability to open the doors or turn on the engine. Permissions can be changed per fingerprint at any time, giving people different permission levels based on a driver’s level of trust — and liability insurance.
Maintenance Improvements
Cars have long had on-board computers that measured things like engine temperature and whether or not it’s time for an oil change. Now, a high-tech device called CarMD can connect to those on-board computers, download data from the car’s computers, and print out easy-to-read reports on a laptop or desktop computer about the state of the car’s maintenance and the potential need for any repairs or checkups.
In a world where mechanics are thought of as less-than-trustworthy until proven otherwise, CarMD is an important asset for the driver who doesn’t want to be overcharged for parts they don’t need, or convinced their car needs a special kind of maintenance that, in reality, it does not.
Technology is rapidly changing the way everyone lives their lives — practically every daily task is now pocket-sized. Cars have been late to go fully mobile, but these accessories are a bold step in the right direction toward all-encompassing mobile integration.
Nicole Rodgers has been blogging for three years; she is also contributing to auto insurance blogs and in her free time she enjoys helping teens prepare for their DMV test.