Regulate to the nth degree. MOst drivers are stupid and getting stupider. This is the last thing they need.

Just when nav systems start to get cool and fun stuff the government has to swoop in and ruin it

I think the car companies should realize what they are doing. Back when the microwave came out they didn't start putting those in cars. IT would be sooo convenient to have a bread box, a toaster, and an ice box for your butter and make your breakfast on your way to work! That would be stupid. Why do you need a computer AT everyplace you spend more than 10 minutes of your day when you already carry around at least 2 with you everywhere you go. At this rate we will have computers installed in our toothbrushes, clothes, kitchens and where ever else you absolutely positively do NOT need extra access to the internet. This effort should be put to help car owners read their own car's diagnostics. To see what parts are wearing down and when they are going to need replacing. No more trusting dealers. They want to up sell everything. Yes they do want to up sell everything because they just sold you a car that has the $2,500 "technology package" that has a touch screen with less tech then your iPhone.

We don't need regulations we need smarter car companies. They need to realize what they are doing is dangerous.

I think the problem will take care of itself the first round of lawsuits. Its easy for car makers to add a bunch of ill thought out features to look good on a paper.

Personally I love technology and I love all this high tech stuff! But in parts of Canada, it's illegal for you to text and make calls on your cell phone, which is reasonable, but if you have a cell phone holder (mainly beside the radio), you can get a ticket if you touch your cell (whether it's to read a text, call, look at the weather, stocks, emails, etc.) but with all of this new stuff coming out where the car tells you everything, shoukdnt it be illegal as well? It's the same thing except the new stuff came straight from the factory! Never the less, new technology is coming and is here to stay! Ps. As everybody knows, I love boobies lol

Yea, I agree. Car companies are doing a little too much. But I can say this, I knew some asshole would bring some anti-government rhetoric to this blog. Yea, I'm talking about you jackoskate.

@donology, My statement was not an anti government statement but just an observation that new technology is coming out in cars that I was personally looking forward too and instead of the government deciding whats good for people or not I would rather make the decision on my own. An for you to call me an asswhole Sr. is just plain rude. I was voicing my opinion to the question that was asked (cause thats the point of a blog, right?). If you going to make such bold claims on a persons character maybe you should at least have a decent argument to back it up.

just give me a radio. Stop loading cars down with a bunch of electronics that drain my damn battery overnight lol. I can park my firebird three months and start it up with no problem.

Like I said in a previous post... Build cars for car people again! I do like the idea of the diagnostic display, although I prefer mechanical gauges.

Darwinistic ICE....let those that cannot multitask go.... They probably voted for Bush too...LOL

Most of this stuff is locked out when the car is in motion. I can't even change a lot of my radio settings unless the car is sitting still. As long as they continue that trend I'm fine with whatever the automaker wants to add. The second they unlock the features while in motion we're going to see a lot of problems.

lol I was thinking the same thing as cknarf. Why would I need to be able to upload pictures on my car when I have a phone that can do that perfectly. Give me something useful like engine operating conditions. Would kinda cool if cars started coming with cb radios...

@Bluballer You are human as me and the rest of the world. When driving, you should pay attention to that and try to avoid any kind of distraction. Sure you can change your radio station or put a CD, but use your cellphone or any kind of electronic device is proven to lower your concentration and raise your reaction time in case of emergency. It has nothing to do with your ability to perform different actions at the same time.

If you are lost , get a map, if you want to talk to someone, just park and call with your cellphone, if you want to change the temperature, turn the fucking button, if you want to watch TV, then get the hell out of your car and go watch TV at home !!! Keep it f*cking Simple!!

I can see the point of furthering technology and all with things such as internet gps in vehicles and all (pretty much making your car more like a phone)...just when it comes to video calls, photos etc....as long as it has gyros(motion sensors) built in to STOP the stupid of society from doing all this on the go, am alright with it. Its just more ways ppl can customize and make their car more personalized without putting in any real hard work. Something everyone likes to do and frankly all of us can relate to... can no on tell me that they haven't put a custom background on there computer/phone/etc? Probably not. Along with that though, some of the ideas coming out today are pretty stupid, its just like all technology, companies want to be first to their competitor of having the newest latest and greatest new technology to wow everyone. Stupid or not. lol

Unfortunately, this is one area where government actually needs to get involved. I'm never one to propose gov't involvement in much of anything, but if the car companies aren't going to "voluntarily" do anything about it, then someone needs to step in. People are too stupid nowadays to realize what is "too much" distraction and end up getting themselves and/or other people killed...it's common sense but unfortunately not as many people seem to have good common sense anymore... However, I do agree with survival of the fittest and realize that the dumbest people out there will be weeded out of the population by accidents...however that will involve innocent bystanders. This is why there needs to be a regulation or other involvement... The best idea would be to propose these features only working when the vehicle is only in "PARK." And if someone were to tamper with these features, they would be tampering with a safety device and would naturally be held liable in any event of an accident. Of course, certain features would be enabled at all times, such as Bluetooth for your phone, etc. Because features like that actually create a safer driving environment. Think about it, if you take away the bluetooth, people are going to use their phones anyways. I rather people not take calls while driving, but if they're going to do it anyways, I'd much rather have them do it "handsfree." I live in Kalifornia and people here have complete disregard for the handsfree laws already...so keep handsfree bluetooth and other functions available and make the other unnecessary sh*t only while the vehicle is in "PARK" and DON'T make it so it's easily overridden (or for manual trans it would be "out of gear" or parking brake "on"). Good idea or no?

I think something needs to be done about it, absolutely. I mean look at how many wrecks are caused everyday by people whom are doing everything, but driving there car. I wonder what the stat. of how many people are killed by these people is?

Just make it so the screens either tilt away from the drivers view, or make it to where the driver just cant see it while driving, like a polarized screen , so that only those to the right, and directly infront of the screen can view it.

What say thee, Donology? dost thou let jackoskate have words with thee, by himself?