Automotive technology is undoubtedly one of the pillars of modern society. It allows us to transport ourselves as well as object quickly, efficiently and safely. The technology involved in cars and their peripherals is constantly changing and evolving to help drivers in many ways. From on-board GPS navigation systems helping drivers with traffic problems to hybrid electric vehicles cutting down on carbon emissions, car technology has made great advances in the past few years and is continuing to do so.
In the past few years, computers have become a more common component in cars and other vehicles alike. Moving from a simple on-board computer that displays car diagnostics, we now have fully-fledged computers integrated into the car which not only tell us valuable information, but help make our day to day lives much easier. Cars equipped with these advanced computers can display things such as current fuel levels, tire pressure, average mileage as well as less technical things such as taking voice activated commands to change the indoor temperature or radio station. These features allow for information to be streamlined to the driver in a manageable way. No longer do people need to worry about learning how to check tire pressure or other fluid levels, now their car can simply tell them exactly what is what.
Voice activation is also another feature that is becoming quite commonplace in the automotive industry. Voice activation is both a convenience as well as a safety feature. Voice activation systems vary from car to car, but most of them usually allow the driver to control simple tasks such as finding a location through GPS navigation or turning up the volume on the radio. Most of these tasks are something that require the driver to use their hands and is often distracting as well as dangerous to do while driving. With the introduction of voice activated systems, drivers can now safely control their music, phone calls, temperature, GPS and more with just their voice. It is features like these which show that the introduction of computer technology to the vehicle industry is helping make things safer.
Another great advancement in vehicles is the inclusion of GPS navigation. Replacing traditional maps and directions, GPS navigation systems give the user exact, pinpoint directions to their desired destination. Modern GPS systems even allow for more advanced features such as re-routing the driver to avoid traffic accidents or backups, tolls, or construction zones. Features like this allow the driver to get to their destination quickly and efficiently. With the advancement in GPS satellite technology, we can now see ourselves on the road with extreme precision. A GPS system can usually tell the driver where they are located to within a square city block of accuracy - most times even to the exact point of location. The introduction of these technologies has helped immensely with preventing traffic and stops. With real time traffic and weather updates, long trips are no longer a gamble in terms of what the driving conditions will be like. We now have access to this information before we even leave and thus allows us to be more prepared and make each trip quick and safe.
The introduction of computer technology in consumer vehicles is nothing new. We have had on-board diagnostic computers telling us our mileage, miles per gallon and miles to engine service for years. But the recent advancement and inclusion of better and smarter technology has helped us not only add more user friendly features, but also has helped make driving safer. From voice activated controls to hands free cell phone calls, we have made our cars safer to drive and to be in. Technology such as hybrid cars have also helped the environment in immense ways and has greatly cut down on carbon emissions from cars. All in all, computer technology in our cars is something that has proven to be very beneficial for all.
