Driving seems to get more and more dangerous these days with people talking and checking email on their phones, jamming out to music, and doing whatever it is that distracts them from keeping their eyes, and their minds on the road. Several states have already passed laws prohibiting drivers from talking on their phones unless they are using a hands-free device. Imagine how distracted people would be if they had a laptop with Wi-Fi available at their fingertips while they drove. Drivers could download music, and work on tomorrow’s presentation while sitting in traffic. Some drivers already do have this capability if they’re using something like Sprint’s wireless broadband service, but what if the Wi-Fi were to come built-in to vehicles?
Starting with all of their 2009 models of vehicles, Chrysler has confirmed that buyers will now have the option to include the UConnect System in their vehicles which features a 3G-to Wi-Fi router concealed inside the car. Buyers would be required to pay a monthly subscription fee to use the service, and then they’d have wireless Internet at speeds of about 600 to 800 kilobits per second. While these speeds aren’t terrible (it’s better than the original iPhone), it’s still not great either, and certainly not 3G speeds.
Many people feel like they have to be connected at all times which is what Chrysler had in mind when they decided to introduce the technology. Scott Slagle, Chrysler’s senior manager of global marketing strategy said, “It’s a notion of always wanting to be connected wherever you are.” This might be convenient, but imagine how the safety advocates feel about this! Before we know it, there will be new laws completely prohibiting the use of any electronics devices in the car while driving.
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I saw this yesterday and thought, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me’.
Chrysler wants to set themselves apart from the automakers with this new feature. Indeed they will, with all the lawsuits they will get from innocent accident victims.
There is way too much crap in cars now that can lead to distractions. I don’t give a care if the cell phone is hands free, it is still a distraction as people focus their attention on the conversation instead of driving. Add on to that, navigation systems, DVD Players, iPods, etc.
We also have law out here that is illegal to text while driving. That was enacted after a teenage girl slammed head-on into someone while texting a few years back. She survived but the person she hit did not.
My first car had an AM/FM radio with cassette deck. The only extra my last had was a 10-disc CD changer behind the seat.
“It’s a notion of always wanting to be connected wherever you are.”
Funny, I don’t feel that way. I rarely use me cell phone and when I do it is *gasp* to make and receive calls. I don’t text, I don’t have mobile web and I also don’t have a gignormous phone bill each month (I spend about $25 every 3-4 months on air time).
I don’t talk much on the phone when I’m driving either. I definitely don’t send text messages or browse the Internet while driving because I definitely don’t have the confidence of being coordinated to do both at the same time.
Funky…but I guess it can work…maybe have to see it in action.
Perhaps Chrysler should have started researching self-driving cars prior doing this
I’m still waiting for the day that we can buy those.
That’s what we’ll need here pretty shortly with all of the people trying to get multiple things done while driving!
I want KITT, and not some stripped down model either. I want the Turbo Boost, ejector seat, etc. But then again, I imagine he uses a lot of gas and likely the high-end stuff too…
Haha! KITT would be nice! Ahhh… the memories of Knight Rider! I loved that show…
KITT is powered by liquid hydrogen… so it might be tough to find a fueling station.