The tech-savvy offspring of geek moms and dads, Gen Zs are notoriously adept with their parents’ iPhones and iPads. Some are so accustomed to touchscreen technology that they find its vintage counterparts baffling. But toymakers are gradually reintroducing sensory play, creating games that combine screen-based and tactile activity and inspiring young Apple-ites to use their hands rather than just their finger pads.
Disney AppMATes: The iPad becomes an interactive play mat when paired with this line of sensor-enabled toys and related apps. Disney has just released the first AppMATe, a Cars-themed app equipped with races, games, and scenic roads for aimless discovery. While the app itself is free, the miniature toy cars required for play cost $20 per two-pack. The iPad recognizes each distinct car as a player “drives” it along the screen, triggering unique narratives and unlocking new features for each character. As far as driving apps go, it’s certainly more fun than those available to grown-ups, and it’s not hard to imagine a multitude of other Disney-themed versions.
In 2009, Mattel released a game that challenged players to navigate a foam ball through an obstacle course using only their minds. While some found the concept shocking, just two years later, the same technology is being tested by transportation engineers. From cars to bikes, “neuroergonomic” navigation is imminent.
BrainDriver: Cruise control can be convenient on open roads, but imagine driving cross country while expending no more effort than that of basic thought. The concept is being tested with BrainDriver, a mind-controlled car. Before the driver begins, the car’s software is trained to identify brainwave patterns. This is accomplished by wearing the Emotiv neuroheadset and performing a series of computer tasks like learning to move virtual objects. The recorded electromagnetic signals are associated with simple driving commands so that when the device is connected to the steering wheel, accelerator and brakes, the vehicle is able to recognize the different mental activities and respond accordingly. No kidding.
Commuters, faced with increasing instances of gridlock, are increasingly turning to walking, biking, and public transportation to get from point A to point B. While some are calling for a complete phase out of cars, innovations in automobile technology are making autos more intuitive to drivers’ needs, suggesting that our dependence on autos is not likely to diminish any time soon.
Driverless Cars: Drivers seem to find it nearly impossible to restrain their twitchy digital trigger fingers, the result of which can be crushing, literally. Enter Google and Volkswagen, both of which are currently developing driverless automobiles that utilize lasers, radar, and robotics to alleviate the need for a human operator. Last month, the state of Nevada passed Assembly Bill 511, a first step toward authorizing driverless automobiles on its roads. According to Google project leader Sebastian Thrun, nearly all accidents are caused by human error, so removing the human element makes roads safer while also maximizing fuel efficiency and freeing hands to, well, send more texts.
Since launching more than a decade ago, Zipcar, the world’s largest membership based car sharing company, has revolutionized the rental car category. The car sharing model, with its financial and ecological benefits, promises to grow in prominence in the years ahead. No surprise, then, that a number of new car sharing systems have come to market recently.
car2go: When it comes to cars, Austin is best known for camper vans, beat-up VWs, and the ubiquitous ‘Keep Austin Weird’ bumper stickers. However, there’s a new auto hallmark in town: a fleet of 210 Smart Fortwos that locals are sharing through car2go. Booking is available ‘on demand’—car locations can be identified through mobile apps—which, combined with RFID card access, makes using the service almost as easy as grabbing a cab. By offering exclusive uber-compact wheels small enough to fit in the tightest of urban parking spaces, car2go may convince city dwellers, besides those looking to bring home their latest IKEA haul, to give car sharing a chance.
Modern rides are coming equipped with intelligent networking applications to make sure that today’s hyper-connected drivers don’t miss a beat. In fact, “infotainment” was perhaps the most frequently used term at this month’s 81st International Motor Show in Geneva. But will these new connected cars make the lives of avid multi-taskers more manageable…or more life-threatening?
ConnectedDrive: After the success of last year’s MINI Connected app, the cutting-edge carmakers at BMW have released ConnectedDrive, a concept that integrates online access for all cars made after March 2011. This next generation of iPhone-compatible vehicles will enable 50 high tech functions and voice-activated commands through its advanced iDrive system. For instance, it will allow drivers to post and receive Facebook and Twitter updates, and facilitate a PlugIn that makes Internet radio and iTunes’ Genius feature available on the road. BlackBerry and Android users need not fret, as BMW is working on making the app available for additional devices. For now, BlackBerry users may continue to enjoy having their emails read aloud to them in their mobile offices.
