Formula 1 McLaren Driven by a BlackBerry Storm

March 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

This site is about digital technology and cars so when I came across this video on YouTube, I just had to post it.

As the story goes, Simon and Steve develop an application for their BlackBerry Storm to steer a modified remote control car. They set up a make shift race track in their office and turn “another day at the office” into a RC car extravaganza. I am OK with the video so far.

Now, Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren Formula 1 team contacts Simon and Steve about their BlackBerry application. This is where I start to question if this is a fake or not.  I doubt that this car is actually being driven by the BlackBerry, but how? Maybe a midget laying on the floorboard? Maybe a real remote control, likely laptop based, sitting off camera? You watch the video and see what you think.

Filed Under: Car Tech, Digital Technology Tagged With: , ,

What Will Transportation Look Like in 2088?

March 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Mobility 2088 - Part of Honda's Power the Dream Series

Mobility 2088 - Part of Honda's Power the Dream Series

Honda produced a neat documentary where the question was, “What will transportation look like in 80 years? This film is part of their “Dream the Impossible” documentary series. No doubt that digital technology will be a major player.

Honda’s “Dream the Impossible” project is a series of well produced (high dollar) documentaries that are thought provoking. You can view all  the documentaries in the highest available quality at this link.

Dream The Impossible
Documentary Series

Honda is a company founded by a dreamer. And we are a company that believes in the Power of Dreams.

Honda has a rich history of making impossible dreams come to fruition. And because the lessons of the past help guide our future, there is a simple humanity found in even our most complex products.

We wanted to document our advancement as a company through film to give you a better understanding of the people behind our products. Please join us as we uncover Honda through the candid approach of the documentary film process.

View “Mobility 2088″ in the highest quality from Honda’s site

YouTube Preview Image
Filed Under: Car Tech, Digital Technology, Education / Training Tagged With: , , , ,

Technology Has Come a Long Way!

March 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

I came across this picture and just had to share it. Now everything these ladies are holding will fit in a chip the size of a pin head!

Ladies Holding Computer Parts... Wow We Have Come a Long Way!

Ladies Holding Computer Parts... Wow We Have Come a Long Way!

Filed Under: Digital Technology, Internet Technology Tagged With: ,

iPhone, Hughes Telematics and Cars

February 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Looks like everybody wants to get into the phone-car convergence game including Hughes Telematics an OEM technology supplier to Chrysler and Mercedes. By 2010, Hughes Telematics will debut its  next-generation technology, which would allow drivers to install software in their cars, just as iPhones let users download applications to their handsets.

Some of the expected features are:

  • An application that could track your peregrinations and estimate your total carbon emissions.
  • Remotely starting a car
  • Resetting its alarm with an iPhone
  • Unlocking the doors with an iPhone (commands could be sent to the car over the Internet)
  • Cars equipped with blind-spot-detection video cameras could be programmed to take a picture of anyone near the car during a break-in and then e-mail it directly to a cellphone or computer.

Here is an article on this at the New York Times

Filed Under: Car Tech, Digital Technology Tagged With: , ,

First iPhone Controlled Car

February 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Rinspeed's iChange

Rinspeed's iChange

iPhone Integration

iPhone Integration

A recent  CarTech Podcast included information about a new project at Rinspeed that really starts to push the technology boundaries. While the folks at Rinspeed are know for their innovation, they really pulled out all the stops for this new concept car called, iChange

While the car does all kinds of interesting things, such as changing its’ shape based on the number of passengers, the part that caught my attention was the integration of the Apple iPhone with the car.

An iPhone is docked into the dashboard and becomes part of the car’s control and display system. You actually start the phone by pushing a start button on the iPhone. After the car is running, the iPhone is then used to display information about the car.  Being able to take your car’s main control system with you and put it in your pocket definitely takes car security to a new level!

This car is complex and there is no way this post can cover it, so I have included several resources for those that want to see what lots of money and out-of-the-box thinking can produce.

Clip from CNET’s CarTech Podcast

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Rinspeed Press Release

Link to a Rinspeed Video on iChange

Filed Under: Car Tech, Digital Technology Tagged With: , , , , ,
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