What is this Strange Gadget in My Car?

VanessaDannenberg asks: "Four months ago my fiancé and I bought a 1997 Thunderbird, which came with a few aftermarket mods. Of particular interest is this strange radio-related gadget that was attached to the windshield above the mirror. It has two 5-pin ports on it (as pictured) which accept a flat cable that runs under the car's headliner. I can't tell where that cable ends, but I figure it's a laptop interface (RS232?). Has anyone seen this thing before? What does it do?"

Comments

I know, I know!

[tfinniga]

It posts the images on something other than geocities.

Hope you didn't want to use your geocities account for a few days.

don't touch unlabelled gadgets!

[Tumbleweed]

"Even if they're labeled free sex and beer." or something like that.

And lemme tell ya, if it's labeled 'Gravity - Do Not Touch,' DON'T FREAKIN' TOUCH IT! (that sentence proves there's still a use for the caps lock key, you losers)
For a possible scenario of what could happen in that type of situation, see the short film, 'This Guy Is Falling.' Great little flick. Might still be able to catch it at atomfilms.com. (sorry, too lazy to check and karma whore with a link)

Think copper, coated with plastic

[b00m3rang]

Seriously how-t-f are you sopposed to use the laptop??? looking straight up at the screen as it sits flush with the roof? look at it upside down?

Much in the same way that I don't need to drag my computer to every web server I want to connect to. They have wires for that.

Simple!

[Improv]

It's an idiot detector. It appears to have served its purpose, so you can detach it now :)

More seriously, why the fnord did you think "Ask Slashdot" is the right place to ask this kind of question, and why did the editors decide this was worthwhile to post? Oy.