6 Ways To End Distracted Driving
If you've kept up with coverage of the 2012 Detroit Auto Show and the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show, you know that auto technology is undergoing some dramatic changes. True, flying cars and plasma drives are still a bit further down the road, but the way we interact with our vehicles today is miles from what it used to be.
However, with all these changes and improvements come countless dangers -- notably, the danger of distracted driving. Once upon a time, the biggest preoccupations for drivers involved keeping the kids quiet in the back seat or finding the right button on the 8-track player. Now, we have phone calls, text messages, emails, and apps to juggle.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has been very vocal about his desire to curb distracted driving and limit drivers' access to mobile phones. Automakers are trying to develop technology to address such concerns, while simultaneously acknowledging that mobile phones are an important part of modern life.
We've taken a long, hard look at the offerings on view Detroit and elsewhere, and from where we sit, there are six possible solutions to the problem of distracted driving:
1. Turning off the phone: Fat chance. We can't even get our moms to stop texting, and they grew up using rotary-dials and drinking bromides. You think their grandkids are going to willingly put down their mobiles? Only if they're automatically disabled -- which sounds like a recipe for shrinking sales and potential lawsuits.
2. Better smartphone integration: Nearly every car on the road these days can be integrated with a smartphone. Even older models can be retrofitted with a stereo system offering an auxiliary jack for listening to tunes and such. But phones are small, and interacting with them requires a lot of squinting and looking down. Plus, they're handheld, and they tend to do terrible things, like tumble to the floor. Until someone amends the law of gravity, using the smartphone as a command center will be an imperfect solution, no matter how great the interface or pairing mechanism may be.
3. Voice control: This is probably the most popular solution to distracted driving that's being bandied about today, since many believe that controlling infortainment and other systems by voice command is less distracting than using touch screens. (Even LaHood is comfy with the idea of hands-free calls -- at least for now.) Voice-controlled systems have been gaining in popularity in recent years, boosted in part by the launch of the iPhone 4S and the Siri personal assistant. Many in-car systems from Ford SYNC to the upcoming Cadillac CUE are capable of responding to spoken commands.
But voice control raises some concerns -- and not just because people are worried about embedding a HAL 9000 unit in their dashboards. Studies have shown that hands-free calling is no safer than making phone calls with a handheld device. Translation: anytime you're talking, whether it's to a caller or your car, it's a distraction. Moreover, voice recognition in its current state is far from perfect, so users often have to repeat themselves, which can make the technology more frustrating, cumbersome, and distracting.
4. Gestural control: First, came the Wii, then the Xbox Kinect, and now, people can't get enough of gestural technology. There's the idea that somehow waving a hand or poking a finger is somehow safer than reaching over and flipping a dial. And that, of course, is ridiculous. For all the problems inherent to voice-recognition, at least calling out commands lets drivers keep both hands on the wheel.
5. Heads-up displays: This technology is so new, we're not prepared to make a call on it just yet. However, as beautiful as tech like the Mercedes-Benz augmented reality windshield may be, it seems a little intrusive.
6. Autonomous vehicles: This is the holy grail of vehicle technology, and if/when it rolls out, it would effectively make distracted driving a non-issue. We'll tell our cars where we want to go, and they'll get us there, while we kick back and enjoy a nice half hour of Farmville. Or a nap.
Google is testing its autonomous vehicles now, and other rides -- like GM's EN-V concept -- have similar technology embedded. But self-driving vehicles are a long way off. Not only does the technology require a lot of development, but roadways require a good bit of infrastructure improvements. After all, in order for cars to know when to slow down in traffic, they'll need to have an idea of when traffic lights are changing, to know when emergency vehicles are approaching, and so on.
As you can see, there's no perfect solution to the problem of distracted driving -- not yet, anyway. For now, the best we can do is to be aware of the dangers and to exert some self-control by putting our phones, tablets, and other distractions away.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
October Auto Sales: The Leading Edge Of An Economic Rebound?
While U.S. economic news is hardly good, somehow auto sales again proved to be a bright spot in October.
As the housing sector remains on a downward slide in much of the country, manufacturing growth slowed, and economists wondered how Greece's nearing economic meltdown will affect the global economy, Americans are buying cars at a surprisingly hot rate. At early tallies, industry-wide auto sales this past month looked about ten percent higher than last October.
General Motors [NYSE: GM] and Ford Motor Co. [NYSE: F] both reported modest gains year-over-year, but it was Chrysler that really picked up the pace in October. Sales of the Chrysler brand itself were up 28 percent, compared to last October, while company-wide, gains were almost as good, at 27 percent.
Volkswagen, which just started assembling 2012 Passat models in Tennessee, reported sales up about 40 percent, and Hyundai sales were up 23 percent, both compared to last October. And Kia continued to surge, with its calendar-year-to-date sales now more than 35 percent higher than this time in 2010. Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Volvo also showed especially strong gains from last October.
The continued growth for those two Korean brands is all the more impressive when considering that Incentives for Hyundai and Kia, among major automakers, remained the lowest in the business—about $1,145 per vehicle, and down 23 percent from last year, according to TrueCar.com. Chrysler has managed to roll back some of its incentives, but it still gives out the most per vehicle; Honda, Nissan, and Toyota are also offering higher incentives than last year.
Honda revealed this past week that production of some of its models will be affected by the flooding in Thailand; furthermore, we reported today, it might also affect the rollout of a redesigned 2012 Honda CR-V. This comes on the heels of a dragging recovery from supply interruptions resulting from the catastrophic March earthquake in Japan.
Analyists for months have suggested that the auto industry is bucking the general economic trends because shell-shocked Americans had simply deferred vehicle purchases as long as they could.
That theory is beginning to be replaced with real optimism that this news might indicate that the economy is bouncing back on 'Main Street' terms. There are some signs that more Americans are finding jobs—and a number of economists expect good news in the next federal jobs figures for October, due this Friday. As a hint of that, the polling firm Gallup found in mid-October that unemployment was around 8.3 percent, down from 9.2 in late August and 10.0 a year ago. Gallup also noticed a significant drop in 'underemployment'—those working part-time who want to be full-time.
Read on for more details from the individual automakers:
General Motors: Chevrolet sales were up 6 percent, but slower sales at GMC, Buick, and Cadillac saw the automaker's figure up 2 percent versus last October. Retail deliveries were up a more impressive three percent. The automaker attributed the launch of the new Chevrolet Sonic and Buick LaCrosse eAssist, as well as strong sales of the Chevy Equinox and Camaro, plus the Cadillac SRX, Buick Regal, and GMC Terrain. More than 1,100 Chevy Volt models were delivered this past month.
Ford: Compared to last October, Ford Motor Company sales were up 6 percent versus last year. Leading that surge were sales of the company's utility vehicles, like the Explorer and Escape. And even though the Escape is about to be replaced, sales of the aged crossover were up 31 percent versus last year and at a record 206,696 sold so far this year. Fiesta, Focus, and Fusion were also up versus last October, while Ford-brand trucks were up a significant 8 percent from year-ago levels.
Chrysler: October sales were up 27 percent compared to last October, and Chrysler says it was the best October since 2007. The redesigned Compass sold 5,179 units, and the refreshed Jeep Wrangler moved 9,892 units. The Chrysler brand itself was up 28 percent, buoyed by the Chrysler 200, and Ram-truck sales were up 21 percent. So far, 2011 CYTD sales are up 23 percent through October, compared to the same period in 2010.
Today In Tech: Ford Launches HD Radio And iTunes Tagging
Digital radios are much like the standard sets that many people have in their cars today, except they offer access to free, crystal-clear, digital programming that's hidden from analog units. iBiquity's digital HD Radio sets have been around for a few years now, working to make up market share lost to subscription services like Sirius, but they haven't made their way into new vehicles -- until now. Next year, Ford will be the first automaker to provide HD Radio sets as a factory-installed option, and via Ford Sync, the units will offer iTunes Tagging capability -- that is, the ability for owners to press a button when they hear a song they like and tag the song for later purchase from iTunes. Music buffs and Appleheads, rejoice (and skim though the full press release below).
Ford first to enable iTunes song tagging with launch of new HD radio capability in its lineup
· Ford is the first auto manufacturer to offer HD Radio technology with iTunes® Tagging capability; this new functionality will be available next year
· HD Radio technology captures free digital radio broadcasts, which eliminate static, fadeout and other problems associated with conventional analog radio signals; the result is FM audio that's comparable to near-CD quality and AM audio that sounds like today's FM broadcasts
· HD Radio digital technology provides a number of advanced services not available with an analog radio. Extra FM channels, called HD2/HD3 channels, are delivered, as well as useful on-screen Program Service Data such as artist name and song title
DEARBORN,Mich., Dec. 29, 2009 iTunes Tagging and crystal-clear radio sound through HD Radio technology are the latest features on Ford's growing list of factory-installed customer conveniences and technologies that will be newly available in 2010.
HD Radio receivers pull in digital radio signals and play them with dramatically improved sound. FM stations, for example, have near-CD quality, making it convenient for customers to select songs they want to download and purchase.
"iTunes Tagging and HD Radio technology are strong new additions to the growing collection of Ford convenience features and technology we're offering customers to make driving even more enjoyable," said Mark Fields, president of The Americas. "This is another example of Ford's commitment to bring the widest variety of factory-installed customer-focused technology, features and conveniences to millions of people."
In 2010, Ford vehicles will offer familiar terrestrial radio, HD Radio technology, SIRIUS®Satellite Radio as well as Internet radio through Ford SYNC® from a Bluetooth®-streaming audio-capable smartphone.
"Ford continues to lead the market in bringing advanced capabilities to popular vehicles. We are very pleased that HD Radio technology is an integral part of Ford's broad offering of new features," said Jeff Jury, COO of iBiquity Digital Corporation, the developer of HD Radio technology.
Like the song? You can tag it
The world's first implementation of iTunes Tagging in a factory-installed HD Radio receiver will launch in 2010 on select Ford vehicles. Through the SYNC system, iTunes Tagging will provide Ford customers with the ability to capture a song they hear on the HD Radio receiver for later purchase. With a simple push of the "TAG" button on the radio display, the song information will be stored in the radio's memory.
Up to 100 tags on SYNC can be stored until the iPod is connected. When the iPod is then synced to iTunes, a playlist of "tagged" songs will appear. Customers then can preview and, if desired, purchase and download tagged songs from the iTunes Store.
All HD Radio-enabled receivers in Ford vehicles also will provide Program Service Data information that appears on the radio screen and includes song title, artist name and more.
Familiar controls with better quality
HD Radio technology enables more listening options and increased sound quality by using the same radio interface customers are used to as well as the same antennas and analog tuners with an added digital decoder inside the radio. Additionally, HD Radio-enabled receivers provide listeners with unique advanced services.
To operate, there's no difference from today's radio operations customers just tune in your favorite station. If the station is broadcasting with HD Radio technology, the system automatically picks up the signal and will transition to digital audio once decoded.
Exclusive to HD Radio receivers are HD2/HD3 channels, which resemble mini-stations that could be spun off the "mother" station or completely new content for the local market. HD2/HD3 channels are found directly adjacent to the main (HD1) channel on the dial if available.
If additional HD2/HD3 channels are available, the radio will indicate how many on a multicast information bar. Users may tune up to the new available channels like they would tune to any other analog station. Users also may store HD2/HD3 presets, just as they do with today's radio.
HD Radio technology enables better audio and exclusive unique content choices
One significant benefit of HD Radio technology is that the sound quality of the broadcast is dramatically better because of the digital transmission FM sounds like a CD and AM sounds like today's FM broadcasts. Also, the sound itself is much clearer and more consistent, without issues such as pops or hisses. Unlike analog broadcasts, digital broadcasts aren't susceptible to interference, fadeout and other issues.
Most stations use the additional HD2/HD3 channels to provide more unique coverage of sports, music or other niche programs often tailored for their individual markets all for free. For example, in Dallas there is now a dedicated 24/7 Cowboys channel on 105.3-HD3. In Pittsburgh, there is a dedicated 24/7 Penguins channel on 105.9-HD2. Broadcasters may choose any genre they wish for their additional channels.
Nearly 2,000 radio stations in the U.S. currently broadcast in digital HD Radio sound, with nearly 1,000 stations also airing HD2/HD3 channels. Approximately 85 percent of the U.S. population is served by a station broadcasting with HD Radio technology.
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This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Ford’s Inflatable Seat Belts Are Finally Ready To Roll
At the 2001 Detroit auto show, Ford debuted some intriguing technology: airbag-enabled seat belts. After years of additional testing and refinement, it appears that the devices are finally ready for prime time. They'll soon be available as an option on next-gen Ford Explorers; afterward, they'll debut in Europe and other markets. While we're waiting for news about their appearance on other Ford vehicles in the U.S., there's a short video about the belts below. Pretty nifty stuff.
[Freep]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Congress Speaks: Aptera 2e Now A Car, Not A Motorcycle
Since June of this year, the Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicle program has awarded low-interest loans to encourage the development of next-gen cars. Ford, Nissan, Tesla, and Fisker got in on the action, but one outside-the-box company has been left on the sidelines: Aptera. The company's 2e model has been legally classified as a motorcycle, so Aptera hasn't been eligible for the program, but that'll change with Congress' redefining of the term "automobile". (Hint: if it's enclosed, seats two, and gets 75 mpg, it's in the ballpark.) John Voelcker has the full story at GreenCarReports.com.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Write About Cars for High Gear Media–Win an iPod Touch!
You're a car enthusiast with some car-shopping smarts, right? It's time to show off a little.
As many of you know, we've gone and opened up the High Gear Media universe so that anyone can write articles about cars and become a published blogger, on one of our 38 content sites. It's a new way for you to take advantage of our expert content and resources to let people know what YOU think about the latest cars, trucks and crossovers. And to get published alongside our High Gear Media pros.
Today, we're kicking off a two-week-long contest where we give away an iPod Touch to show off our new technology.
Write for us? Here's how it works: First, check in at our High Gear Media blog page. It takes about 15 seconds; you'll get an activation email that lets you stay signed in through Facebook Connect, or to sign in each time you write about cars.
Then, write for us. Show off what you know about cars, or give an opinion on some of the latest vehicles you've seen or driven.
What kind of articles are we looking for? Here are some tips:
- Write a review of a car you own, or an article about how you decided which car to buy
- Give us your take on a new or coming model
- Compare two cars and give pros and cons
- Write a "How to" or "Tip" article that relates to cars: "How to Find the Best Truck"
- Create lists: "The Five Worst Cars for Families"
- Highlight or analyze recent car news
Want an example? Here's one post about modifying a Toyota Prius that's gotten some great interest.
All article submissions will be moderated and judged on overall quality: readability, clarity, usefulness, etc. Articles my be edited for style or length. And please remember to respect copyrights: if you don't own words or pictures, you don't have the right to steal them from others, and we won't publish them, either.
When an article is published, you'll get an email telling you where we've published it. At the end of two weeks, we'll drop names from every article published into a hat, select one, and announce our lucky winner.
The contest runs starting Monday July 20 and ends August 3. At the end of that two weeks, we will pick a winner out of a hat from all those who submit an article that gets published by us. At the end of the two weeks, we'll mail our winner a gift certificate good for an iPod Touch (pictured here).
All you have to do is write a great article that gets published and gets attention. Remember, the more articles you submit and we publish during the two weeks, the MORE chances you have to win.
On your marks...get set...go!
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
GM Launches ChevroletVoltAge.com To Promote…The Chevy Volt
General Motors' formidable PR SWAT team and its newly installed commander, Bob Lutz, are amping up the ramp-up to the release of the Chevrolet Volt. This week, the company launched ChevroletVoltAge.com, where prospective Volt buyers, early fans, and slackjawed gawkers can learn more about Bob's bouncing baby bundle of extended-range technology. Lutz, if you're listening: we're not sure about the kitchy capitalization on "VoltAge", but you've been in place for a week, so we'll give you a pass. Next week...maybe not so much. [ChevroletVoltage]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Obama’s Auto Task Force Drive Chevy Volt, Visit Ram Plant
Today members of President Obama's autos task force head to Detroit to scrutinize GM and Chrysler's viability plans. A test drive of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and tour of the plant that assembles the 2009 Dodge Ram will provide a chance for the companies to prove they can use fed assistance to actually move forward rather than just treading water and feeding bloated bureaucracies.
But with GM now admitting that bankruptcy might be its best option, this visit from the White House could prove the automakers' important performance ever. Far from just photo ops, ride-and-drives, and feel-good factory visits, the visit will likely be pivotal for both GM and Chrysler, who desperately need more money from the government to avoid filing for bankuptcy.
The task force has been charged with deciding whether or not domestic automakers are deserving of more federal bailout funds. Currently, GM and Chrysler and are existing on the $17.4 billion lifeline in no-interest loans granted last year by the Bush administration. The companies have asked for a total of $39 billion and claim that receiving additional funding is urgent.
Prominent auto task force members like financier Steven Rattner and Steelworkers union official Ron Bloom will first tour GM's massive tech center in Warren, Mi. where they will drive the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and presumably meet key members responsible for delivering on GM's promise to bring the Volt to market late next year. Afterwards, task force members will head to Chrysler's Warren Truck plant where the 2009 Ram is produced; the company says the vehicle's vastly improved quality, fresh interior design, and innovative technology are emblematic of changes that will find their way into the rest of Chrysler's dated lineup.
[source: Detroit Free Press]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Feuding Over Powder From South America: Sound Familiar?
Nearly half of the world's supply of lithium lies within desert salt mines in Bolivia. As demand for lithium ramps up quickly, driven by promising lithium-ion automotive battery technology in hybrid and all-electric vehicles, the quest for trade deals with Bolivia becomes increasingly political. Could lithium one day become as sought after and controversial as foreign oil?
Pushing back against the Japanese and European companies trying to broker deals with Bolivia is the country's President Evo Morales. Morales, much like Hugo Chavez, is openly critical of the U.S. and has already put restrictions on his country's natural gas and oil resources. Not only is Bolivia planning on keeping tight reigns on its vast lithium deposits, but the peasant salt harvesters who mine it have their own designs on the potential profits to be reaped.
Quoted in the New York Times, Francisco Quisbert said, "we know that Bolivia can become the Saudi Arabia of lithium. We are poor, but we are not stupid peasants. The lithium may be Bolivia's, but it is also our property." Quisbert is the head of Frutcas, an organization of salt harvesters and farmers who work on the world's largest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni.
So it looks like buying a Chevy Volt will be a mite more complicated than U.S. subsidies of $15,000 to bring its price within realm of the buying public. What's next, OLEC and the lithium wars?
[source: New York Times]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Vehicle At NAIAS GM/SAE Conference
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and General Motors are teaming up to present a press conference about development of the fuel cell at the Detroit Auto Show Wednesday. The presentation will be a part of the show's Education Day this Wednesday, January 21, and will kick off at 10:00 a.m. at the GM exhibit in Cobo hall.
The aim of the conference is to present SAE International's 'A World in Motion,' which is a K-12 program designed to foster "the fundamental skills necessary for a future career in science, technology and engineering." The program is targeted towards middle school students across the U.S.
On hand will be an example of fuel cell technology in the form of a Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell vehicle, which converts hydrogen into electric energy to power the vehicle's electric motors. With zero emissions (apart from water vapor) from its electric propulsion system, an Equinox fuel cell vehicle will be on hand for test drives at the Ride-And-Drive Park inside Michigan Hall.
While hydrogen-powered vehicles like the 7-series, Mazda RX-8, and Honda FCX Clarity do offer zero emissions, they face huge hurdles due to nascent infrastructure for hydrogen refueling. If you really want in on the hydrogen experiment, you better live in California; currently there are six stations in Northern California and a surprising 20 in Southern California. Not to mention, hydrogen gas is quite volatile, making storage and transfer a relatively hazardous affair. Whether or not this clean technology succeeds remains to be seen, but any advancement in the realm of zero-emissions vehicles is a laudable mark of progress for clean transportation.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
