Extra mile

AT A TOUCH

The in-car user interface is evolving, with carmakers beginning to replace analogue dials and controls with touch-screen displays.

They were used in nearly every electric or hybrid vehicle unveiled at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, such as Volkwagen's E-Up! concept and Citroen's REVOLTe, whose touch-sensitive screens locate the nearest charging stations.

Mobile phone manufacturers are also working with carmakers to develop all-singing and all-dancing in-car infotainment systems. Nokia is leading the way with Terminal Mode. Once developed, it will mean that car entertainment systems can properly integrate with mobile phones and their apps – not just letting you wirelessly sync for phone calls, but also displaying everything you see on your phone – from photographs to the latest movies.

Terminal Mode will also allow your mobile to access performance information from the car itself, such as speed and fuel consumption information.

VOICE RECOGNITION

Working in partnership with Microsoft, Ford have developed Ford Sync – an in-car voice recognition platform that integrates a music player, phone and navigation system with a car’s audio and voice recognition system.

This means that drivers will be able to tell their car which songs they want to hear or who they want to call and the car will do it for them. The technology also acknowledges when you receive a text message and will read it out to you.

Other car manufacturers are also following suit, with Kia’s Uvo system using similar Microsoft software and offering many similar features to Sync.

GREEN TRACKING

Today’s drivers are increasingly fuel conscious in a bid to save money and cut their carbon footprints. So, savvy developers have come up with a range of smartphone apps available to encourage motorists to be ‘greener’ drivers.

Apps such as greenMeter and Fuel Saver for the iPhone, uses the phone’s accelerometer to rate the efficiency of your driving. They tell you if you’re braking excessively like a boy racer or accelerating too aggressively.

These apps also display real-time results and suggestions on how to reduce fuel consumption and lower the vehicle's environmental impact.

Also, check out the TomTom iPhone app, which plots out the most fuel-efficient routes you can take.

LITTLE BLACK BOXES

Much like the black boxes found on airplanes, computer scientists are looking to fit cars with devices that can send video footage and information about driving behaviour during accidents to the police and insurance companies.

The prototype car, currently being developed with researchers from Intel, will record information about the vehicle speed, steering and braking.

The device will transform cars into smart vehicles that are able to detect dangers on the road and even take over control from motorists. The cars will also be able to track the location of surrounding vehicles and alert drivers if they get too close or try to change lanes when another vehicle is in their blind spot.

Motorists will also be able to use their mobile phone or computer lock and unlock their car remotely, turn on the alarm and even start the engine to warm it up in the morning.

FINGERTIP RECOGNITION

Forget wheel locks, the car security of the future will use high tech finger print scanning technology – so that only the driver and authorised drivers, such as friends and family, can use your car.

Systems such as the Biometric Fingerprint Car Security and Alarm System offers a one-stop solution to car theft prevention – with a fingertip ignition lock, GSM messaging system and car alarm audio alerts.

This fingerprint ID security system also allows you to send text commands from your mobile phone to an in-car unit to receive important status messages or temporarily disables certain features.

So, for example, if you bring your car to the mechanic and you don’t want him to have access to your fingerprint scanner, you can send a text message via mobile phone or keychain and the ID scan is temporarily disabled until the mechanic is finished with your car.

Or, if your car is somehow hacked into and taken, you can send a message that will slowly cut-off the fuel supply, thereby disabling the vehicle.