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Nissan / Infiniti already have a "lane departure" warning system on their current models. I saw it in a showroom recently - it uses a camera mounted in the front bumper to read road markings, which signals a warning if you're drifting out of lane.

Here's the Press release, and a link to their current models.

I've got no idea how well it works in practice. I guess the next stage in automation - once the camera element is bulletproof - would be hooking this into the power steering to correct lane drifts. Then awareness of other obstacles, reading road signs, hook it up to GPS - and you might end up with a car that can drive itself.

Nissan / Infiniti already have a "lane departure" warning system on their current models. I saw it in a showroom recently - it uses a camera mounted in the front bumper to read road markings, which signals a warning if you're drifting out of lane.

Here's the Press release, and a link to their current models.

I've got no idea how well it works in practice. I guess the next stage in automation - once the camera element is bulletproof - would be hooking this into the power steering to correct lane drifts. Then awareness of other obstacles, reading road signs, hook it up to GPS - and you might end up with a car that can drive itself.

I forgot to mention an auto manufacturer where this feature is now available. Here you go.

The new Infiniti M already has 14 speakers:

http://www.infiniti.com/content/0,,cid-123089_scti d-32005,00.html

You'd probably be able to add the receiver using the optional towing package.

Now please,

"watching TV?", I don't see a TV in his setup. I do see an LCD in the headrest so ppl in the rear sear can watch DVDs, etc. Perhaps you should perform a bit of research before you simply complain? If you are really interested in how technology and Telematics are affecting drivers, then _think_, and perform a little research (Watch Discovery || TLC).

Telematics is the future for vehicles. Ford, GM, Toyota, Fiat, etc are investing quite a bit on the research and development of telematics to improve driver awareness, and information, and balancing the distractions caused by other consumer devices people typically carry (Phone, PDA, etc.). For example, wonder over to AMI-C. Are all of the major automotive manufacturers, ISO, and NIST "Idiots" as well? What about Toyota Prius and Infiniti G35 owners (and too many others to list here)?

Actually, these types of systems have been studied intensely for years. The US DOT has a whole program centered on smart safety devices called the Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI). Many of the OEMs have also been pursuing this in their own labs.

I should point out that intelligent cruise control (speed adjustment to maintain gap between cars) is already in some cars in the US market (e.g., Infinity Q45). Europe and Japan have more models to choose from (cite your favorite US lawsuit quote here). ICC (aka ACC) with limited (~33%) braking authority is just around the corner.

Also, and perhaps more relevant to /. fears, the Eaton Vorad collision warning and ICC system has been on the market for years. There are a lot of trucks out there with these in use.

the top of cars today are great, but the underbody is an ugly mess of crap, gas tank straped under the frame, susspention components with no areodynamic thought in mind, cables, and other crap just sitting under there.

You should check out the new Infiniti G35 - they're the first cars I know of that really paid attention to the underbody. Very well-done and smooth.

I have a lot of friends who have sprint phones with voice nav. They all used it for the first week because it was "cool" but after awhile, they went back to traditional methods. Another example is my father; he got the 02 Infinity Q45 which has loads of tech toys built in. The voice nav is really cool but it's not nearly as fast a clicking a button.