I was wondering what ideas for gadgets Backroomers might have that as far as you know don't exist, but would actually be useful.
As a start, is it actually beyond the wit of man to produce a gadget that bounces some kind of beam off the car in front and at least goes boing or lights up when you are too close? Maybe this could be adapted from laser cruise (as seen on top end luxobarges) and put onto more ordinary cars for a few quid?
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A similar one could go on the back so that when a car gets too close it displays a sign saying BACK OFF!
Or do we already have it and call it a brake pedal?
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It already is, on the Fiat Stilo!
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I've always fancied the idea of a vehicle immobiliser that works on mobile phone technology.
The way it would work is this.
If a car is stolen then the owner or police can 'phone' the car using an ordinary mobile phone and key in a unique text message to disable the car.
Used appropriately it could put a stop to many high speed car chases endangering life and limb.
In addition a distress signal could be sent out when the immobiliser is activated, returning a GPS grid reference of the whereabouts of the car - I know this exists on the Tracker, but this would be built into the immobiliser and retuned to your mobile.
This grid reference could be updated whenever you 'phoned' the car's mobile number, allowing the police to trace and recover it.
The clever little device that does this would be hidden in the chassis of the car, so even if the thieves did manage to get over the immobiliser, the GPS unit would still be active.
Well someone must have thought of that before....
****Signature? - Ideas on a postcard please anyone!****
****We never stop learning****
Hugo
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Interesting idea, phoning up to have your car immobilised. I guess it would have to introduce some sort of gradual fuel starvation. Alternatively, rig a radio receiver under the bonnet and the traffic police could "zap" it as they chase, or from a helicopter. Very Dan Dare I'm sure.
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Either gradual fuel starvation or simply just cut out the electronic ignition.
Or it could catch fire! now there's an idea.....
I don't know if anyone remembers an episode of Knight Rider when a couple of car thieves try to steal Kit and he takes them for a spin.
****Signature? - Ideas on a postcard please anyone!****
****We never stop learning****
Hugo
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Interesting idea, phoning up to have your car immobilised. I guess it would have to introduce some sort of gradual fuel starvation. Alternatively, rig a radio receiver under the bonnet and the traffic police could "zap" it as they chase, or from a helicopter. Very Dan Dare I'm sure.
I recently read of such a device.
There is an immobilser that is remotely activated so that when told to act will wait until the car comes to a halt and then it prevents any more progress. I assume it tweeks the EMU to go to sleep.
I guess the irks would then give up and depart.
It seems a great device that does minimise the risks to the irks and others around.
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Already exists on the front windscreen, but why oh why don't rain sensors get fitted for rear windows. If you drive an estate car (in particular) you'll know that this might come in handy.
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Mm, until they start thinking "mustn't stop or the car will refuse to move, must keep going....". Like that weird film where if the bus went below 60mph it would explode, a concept I can only imagine is part of Stagecoach's training around here.
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Cracking film, Dipstick (that seems so rude, calling you Dipstick!).
By the way, as an ex-driver of the company of which you speak, I can assure you that it is not suicidal tendencies on the part of the drivers. It is the company looking to save money by lopping the running time of the journeys so that we have to drive at breakneck speed otherwise the passengers (sorry - customers) will be late.
Anyway, I work for a far better company now, so "pttthhhhhhrrrrrtttt" to the company which I have previously mentioned.
Cheers
Rob
"Lord of Lard"
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Dipstick - forgot to mention that your post made me laugh out loud!!!
Rob
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Being able to start defrosting a car 20 mins before driving it would be a good idea.
Heated elements in all the windows powered by some meaty capacitors that you could set to come on at 6 in the morning before you go to work. Wouldn't risk flattening the battery either.
Also, solar panels built into the roof and bonnet to assist charging the battery and powering the aircon etc, thereby reducing the load on the engine and increasing fuel economy. I know you can get little solar chargers to keep the battery alive when parked up, but these would be built in and be contributing all the time.
Again, clever use of capacitance circuits could help to provide a more consistant power level to the battery/services.
****Signature? - Ideas on a postcard please anyone!****
****We never stop learning****
Hugo
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Again, I think this tech already exists, and Mercedes is the chief suspect. Seem to think S class's aircon system can retain heat and release it to heat car up remotely. Or summat like that.
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"solar panels built into the roof and bonnet to assist charging the battery and powering the aircon etc"
A lot more could be done with electric ancillaries, I feel. electric aircon that could be kept 'ticking over' while a car is parked in sunshine would be good, and you could have electric supercharging (with an exhaust turbo providing the power, perhaps), even solenoid operated valves for wholly variable timing. At least that would end the discussions about cam belts...
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Kia list an option where you can defrost the car 20 minutes before driving.
There are two versions: one uses a timer, the other you call the car from a telephone and it switches the heater on.
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>Being able to start defrosting a car 20 mins before driving it would be a good idea.
And indeed why couldn't the blamed thang just monitor the outside temperature and turn on window heating elements as appropriate when icing was occurring? Dangnabbit.
Sorry for the Western slant in the above paragraph. An overdose of Calamity Jane at the weekend. I wonder if a car would benefit from "female fixin's".
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"pttthhhhhhrrrrrtttt"
Hey, Rob - you've defeated the swear filter!
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The technology is there to do anything you want. It's just a matter of cost and marketability allied to customer demand and what's trendy (cue Marketeers with BS sales pitch) . Pal of mine has a set-up made by LG (Korea) which allows him to turn his house air-con on/off, adjust his fridge, set his door alarm, monitor his housemaid for all I know, all from his cellphone while sitting in friday traffic jams en route home.. Wow, what have I been missing all these years.
The problem with all this stuff is you get confronted with some control pad with miniscule buttons you need a magnifying glass to read -- they're so small they can't even fit words on them to describe what they do, just dumbass symbols you have to learn, and a multitude of functions you never thought you needed only to spend the money and find out too late you were right all along and you didn't. My coffee table already has 6 remotes on it. The freaks that invent this stuff need a shot of reality, preferably from a competent proctologist.
If there is one thing which is stunningly useful, stunningly obvious and yet seems to have escaped the designers of cars and one I would want on every vehicle I own/drive it is one of those reversing gadgets that tells you when you're about to hit the heap behind you. I can't think of anything more useful.
Malaysia's Protons have had them for years, why can't all makers fit them? I'd gladly pass up on a few cupholders and some obscure CD player function that allowed me to recall what I was playing last Christmas Eve for sensible user-orientated driver-aid functions as opposed to some geek's mind-trip add-on that serves no useful purpose whatever beyond occupying 19 pages in the Vehicle Owner's Manual (hands up who ever read one of those anyway).
Well, competition squeezes manufacturers on new car sale margins so I guess gouging the customer via obscure technology so that only some high price service station can figure it out is one way of boosting earnings.
Why did I have to buy a $125 CDI for my Honda trailie and wait 3 weeks for it to come from Japan when in bygone days it would have been a new condenser, a set of points a screwdriver and pliers and 15 mins' work to get back on the road? OK OK for the shareholders, got it.
One thing is for sure. When it goes wrong, and it will, it's always the technology that lets you down. You can take that to the bank.
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How about automatic sun visors? Either ones that would lower automatically or a switch could be used to lower/position them. Or even reactolite glass at the top of the windscreen that dims automatically.
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The glass manufacturing companies have been looking at this for quite some time now.
I can olny presume that they are having the same sort of difficulties peolple who where reactolight glasses have, i.e. dark tint at the wrong times like bright sunshine but heavy rain etc.
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"reactolight glasses"
I think it might be simpler than that. I was quoted £90 recently for reactolite lenses with a total surface area of about four square inches. That was double the cost of the plain ones, so the material would appear to cost about £10/square inch...
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