The Connected Car: A Look at The Debate

More and more cars are appearing that enable people to connect to the Internet from the front seat via Wi-Fi or 3G networks.  The Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, and Audi A6 are all examples of this. With these connections people will be able to stream videos, get up-to-the-minute traffic information, as well as speak their text messages. These things all sound good, and we generally welcome technological advancements with open arms but this make us ask the question: Is full connectivity in a moving vehicle a good thing?

Challenges of the Connected Car

People lose focus when they text or chat on their phones while driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that 80 percent of traffic accidents involve driver inattention within 3 seconds of the crash. So, if basic cell phone use is a disruption imagine what it would be like if an individual is video Skyping with their closest friend while driving or watching that funny Super Bowl advertisement.

Does Tech Distract Drivers?

Clearly drivers ought to concentrate on driving, and many things like eating, talking on their phone, even talking to a companion inside the car can be a distraction. These distractions can result in serious accidents. This reason is in part why the very idea of having more connected cars doesn’t necessarily make people jump for joy.

Browsing the Web Inside Your Car

Soon motorists will have the ability to receive Facebook updates and browse the web on in-car navigation screens. We might even see the advent of short-range communication allowing drivers who are sharing the road to connect to each other.

As we said before, we usually think of advancements in technology as a great thing, nevertheless, the possible negative effects that connected cars could have make us stop and think. While having all of these tech features in our cars increases enjoyment on the road it’s important that they don’t become a distraction to the driver.

How Nanotechnology Changes our Lives

You hear the term “nanotechnology,” and what do you think of? Science fiction, maybe robots, something along those lines? In reality, nanotechnology is making life better for everyone. At its core, nanotechnology is the science of dealing with matter on an atomic and molecular scale. The hope is that scientists will use nanotechnology to make new materials and products that boast a variety of applications.

The practical side of nanotechnology

As an example, Science Daily ran a feature story about scientists developing a method to use nanotechnology to minimize the amount of friction in car engines and machines. If this technology becomes commonplace, it will help extend the lives of machines and engines and help them operate more efficiently (read article). According to the Science Daily story, a team of scientists developed tiny polymer particles that were distributed in automobile engine base oils. When tested under conditions that simulated those found in car engines, these tiny particles were found to have an extraordinary capacity to reduce friction.

More efficient motors

Even when distributed at low concentrations they decreased friction significantly, much more so then the friction additives currently being utilized in many industries today. How much more do they decrease friction? By about 55 percent more! Nanotechnology is a developing industry so expect more findings like this. In fact it is growing so fast that the United States recently launched a national strategy to make sure that environmental, health, and safety research needs are addressed in the field.

The emerging world of nanotechnology

So, whenever you think about nanotechnology consider the engine in your car. In the not too distant future we might have nanotechnology to thank for more fuel-efficient cars, which obviously means saving you money.