A SMART assistant is being developed to help drivers cope with the increasing number of electronic devices in cars. When complete, the assistant will decide when it is too dangerous for a driver to be disturbed, and will divert phone calls to voicemail, hide arriving emails and lock the controls of the satellite navigation system and CD player.
A clutch of accidents has been blamed on the workload that in-car devices can place on drivers, and this week the UK became the latest country to ban the use of hand-held cellphones by drivers. Portugal and some other countries have even banned voice-operated hands-free phones.
Yet while the laws get tougher, the number of gadgets designed for cars continues to increase. Some luxury models are now fitted with internet terminals specifically designed to offer information while the car is on the move, such as the location of parking places and filling ...
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