Hi-tech cars: a deadly distraction?

While business users complain about information overload stemming from multiple mobile devices and communication applications, the dangers of the problem have, until now, been pretty minor.

However, more recently car manufactures have began looking at ways to heighten the technology available to drivers and while there are many benefits to mobile workers there is also the possibility the systems will distract drivers from the road.

Google has brought Local Search and Maps to cars to allow business professionals to send addresses they receive in emails to their car in order to speed up the time taken to get to vital business meetings

In December Google teamed up with Audi A8 to bring Google Earth to drivers and give them 3D satellite imagery and geological information relevant to location.

Yesterday the New York Times quoted Audi's multimedia interface systems engineer, Mathias Halliger, who argued that business users want to find all the information they have in their smartphone in their car.

"We should give them the same or a better experience", said Halliger.

Meanwhile today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the US division of Ford launched a new IT system for cars called MyFord Touch, which connects the driver with entertainment functions, phones, climate information and navigation systems.

MyFord has Wi-Fi functionality, two USB ports and plug-in keyboard access. Drivers will be able to control much of the system and LCD screens with voice commands.

Although not advised by the car company, MYFord will allow drivers to check their emails, talk on the phone, listen to music, and check the weather, all with their foot on the pedal.

Ford could not immediately respond to requests about when MyFord will be made available to the UK market and it may be that with already tighter restrictions on driver and car security than in the US, it will not enter the UK without certain safeguards being mandated.

Yet still, as car companies are now trying to differentiate themselves with the amount of gadgets they offer the customers, the government needs to keep a watchful eye on the potentially deadly distractions they can also bring.

07 Jan 2010