Computers & Cars...

Back in 2006 i remember an hilarious post about an exchange of opinions between Bill Gates and Ford Motors (probably fiction) ..

it went something like this ...

At a not so recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated, "If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25.00 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."
In response to Bill's comments, General Motors issued a press release stating:
If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics (and I just love this part):
1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash twice a day.
2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.
3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. For some reason you would simply accept this.
4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.
5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive - but would run on only five percent of the roads.
6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "This Car Has Performed an Illegal Operation" warning light.
7. The airbag system would ask "Are you sure?" before deploying.
8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.
9. Every time a new car was introduced car buyers would have to learn how to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.
10. You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.

Keep in mind that at the time a Computer in a Car amounted to a one line digit display with fuel consumption, external temperature readouts and so on, the more sexy features like Navigation, full sensor diagnostics, communication and so much more where only available on reruns of the Knight Rider.

So yes .. the Automotive industry is a little conservative and it takes its time adopting new technologies, but you should take more notice on what is available with many of the luxury cars as it is only 3-5 years away from becoming a standard offering with the most basic models. and if you can't wait .. your smartphone (that will soon be part of the Car) can already give you a nice taste of what is yet to come.

SO yes .. your car will probably be able to drive and park itself (just give a destination) it will allow you to chose the scenic, or maybe fastest or most fuel efficient route. It will tell you or your friendly car service provider when it is time to take the car for its next tuneup and yes Big Brother will know so much more about you then you would care to believe possible .. but then maybe there is also some additional benefits like your kids thinking twice before taking his date in your car!!