New Tech Brings Potential for New Possibilities

The term “self-driving car” and the thought of one probably conjures up thoughts in most peoples’ minds of someone eating, reading, or even sleeping while their car drives them where they want to go. They may think mainly of Tesla and Uber, arguably the two largest companies most heavily in the development and application of autonomous, or self-driving, cars. Like many technologies, this one has roots much earlier than many would think. Unlike many technologies developed over a long stretch of time and only being perfected today, however, vehicular autonomy, or the ability of a vehicle to drive itself without human assistance, did not have the potential to exist at the time it was imagined. While the idea existed, the technology available simply did not allow for its application. This is particularly interesting given the normal course of technological progress wherein an idea develops and a very crude prototype created, and inventors continue to create more advanced prototypes until technology allows for a much more useable application or even perfection. Another thing making the case of autonomous vehicular technology even more interesting is the case of the airplane. Lawrence Sperry, the head of the Sperry Corporation, an aviator, and the son of then-famous inventor Elmer Sperry, invented autopilot for airplanes in 1912. This was not even a decade after the Wright brothers’ famous first successful flight at Kittyhawk, North Carolina in 1903. Read more »

Anyone who’s ever driven into a big city such as New York or Los Angeles for a major event and tried to find parking at the last minute knows how much of a struggle the process can be for a driver.  Street parking fills up incredibly quickly, leaving parking garages and paid lots as the only options.  However, even those garages and lots fill up very often and sometimes charge more for a spot when demand is high.  Cool product in technology SpotHero wants to solve this issue for drivers by helping them pre-book parking spots before ever getting into their cars.  Read more »

Safety on the road is an issue that has proven to be difficult to address. Many people don’t take the time to evaluate how their children develop as drivers or even reflect on their own driving practices.  People also often miss important maintenance deadlines on their car because they aren’t keeping track of what their car needs. This can lead to breakdowns and mechanical failures that cause accidents.  However, cool product Zubie is trying to solve these problems with an electronic device that monitors your car with the help of a companion mobile app for your iPad or iPhone.  Zubie keeps track of your car’s condition and its location so you can ensure that nothing goes wrong with it. You can read your car’s status on the smartphone app that pairs with your Zubie “key”.  You install the Zubie key in your car and then receive updates about potential issues through the app.  Those who need help using the Zubie app should get help from smartphone PC support. Read more »