Push to Start, Push to Park, Push to Drive?

It’s again the week that brings us the latest in tech from the CES convention in Vegas and the latest from the automobile industry at the NAIAS in Detroit. But this year the lines between the two seemed to blur as automobiles took a prominent spot at CES and technology was booming at the Detroit Auto Show. We’re not just talking about your standard car stereo or car navigation system; almost every automaker introduced better-than-ever entertainment systems that connect the driver like never before.

Chevrolet, Toyota, Audi, Hyundai and Ford are among the many automobile companies that have recognized the growing importance of technology while driving. Chevrolet’s “MyLink” offers wireless phone compatibility which can link your calls and address book directly to the vehicle. The car also offers wireless streaming of music from your phone including the use of Pandora and other music apps. Toyota’s “Entune” offers the same features, but also has built in apps including Pandora, iHeartRadio, Bing search and more. Audi Connect will feature a pop-up 7-inch touchscreen display, connected wirelessly and automatically to your phone to access a multitude of features. The knob by the driver’s side can scroll through screens and text, making it easier to operate than a traditional display screen. With this system you can store and track flights, view and play your phones entire music library, get news, weather and gas prices, and even create a Wi-Fi hotspot in the vehicle! Almost every new model offers a remote-link app for your cell phone which allows you to unlock, lock, sound the alarm, and sometimes start your vehicle from anywhere in the world. The days of car keys are slowly becoming a thing of the past.

Almost nothing excites me more than the progression of technology, especially when it comes to entertainment. For years the capabilities of our phones and other gadgets have exceeded that of our vehicles and it’s about time these features were incorporated into our cars.  I wonder how long it will be until our cars are the ones doing all the driving; they can already park themselves.

Back Up into Your Back Up Battery

One of the worst things is when your phone runs out of power while you’re in the middle of something really important, like posting a witty remark on your friends Facebook profile. Just imagine how much worse it would be if your car did the same thing during an even more vital activity, such as listening to your favorite song on your cd radio. At least with phones you have the option to buy those bulky power packs that extend your battery’s life. Only if cars had something similar… oh wait, it looks like it they may be on the way! Feel free to now play that song as loud as you can on your cd radio.

Those crazy engineers at Swiss Think Tank Rindspeed have conjured up The Dock+Go. This device would hook up to the back, and look like an extension of your vehicle. The biggest difference would be the third axle and extra set of wheels. The Dock+Go would increase your driving range with either an extra gas tank or set of batteries. Rindspeed has also dreamt up the idea of putting an oven, or a complete tool box in different models of the Dock+Go.

Currently they have modeled the Dock+Go to fit on the back of a Smart Car. Most people would say, “if someone wanted a bigger gas tank and more storage, then why not just buy a normal size car instead of a Smart Car and The Dock+Go?” Most people would say this because they are right.

As of now the Dock+Go is just an idea. Rindspeed does not actually produce any of the incredible things they think up… so lazy.