So this might surprise you, but I’m not going to post a ridiculous gadget or device in this edition, I wanted to talk about “convergence”. Our regular, and our most common definition for a converged device is a Pocket PC/ PDA combined with a phone. Recently I’ve been following a few convergence ideas that I’d like to share. Firstly, using the iPhone in the car, takes a lot of extraneous equipment, well what about this Idea! A built in dock!

So what we are looking at is the advent of a new convergence trend. Automobile manufacturers realising that people are dependant on these devices and incorporating them into their vehicles. So we can see above an incorporated iPhone dock in a land rover, looks cool, is it a designers premonition?
Then other rumours, about a collaboration between BMW and Apple, to include an iDrive system, which now suggest that it’s more probable that, a different approach will be taken.

Then there is GPS, over the last couple of years we have seen a proliferation of devices, but we again come to the same problem, you need a multitude of extra bibs and bobs to actually have them work in the car. Another add on, so this is a really cool idea.
A heads up display (HUD) that incorporates your GPS and gives you real time directions, that you don’t have to go back to your device for! It’s called

Virtual Cable™

Our invention, called Virtual Cable™ is a unique display for a car navigation system. The driver sees the Virtual Cable™ image through the windshield. It appears as if suspended over the road, similar to a trolley cable. The image is in true 3D and appears to be a natural part of the landscape. The driver uses only peripheral vision to follow the Virtual Cable™.

The Virtual Cable™ is so powerful, intuitive, unambiguous and safe because it appears and behaves with true 3 dimensionality within the landscape.

It’s still an add-on though as is this BT hands free solution, that does border on the ridiculous, because it is attached to the steering wheel. Any body else see the irony in that?

We’re not certain that your steering wheel is the best or safest place to attach a handsfree device, but those of you looking to up your Michael Knight factor might be interested in Seecode’s new Wheel Bluetooth kit. Featuring a small screen and call-control buttons, the battery-operated unit allows you to chat away on speakerphone, send / end calls, and view your phonebook — all while (hopefully) keeping your eyes on the road. No word on when these might be available, but check the read link for the usual riveting assortment of FCC docs.

So where am I going with this, one of the most commonly owned and used mobile devices is, of course, the automobile. Wouldn’t it be incredible if the major auto manufacturers included the digital bibs and bobs, so that you don’t have to add them on later? Talk about value adding, jump in the car, drive off, check your email inbox with your peripheral vision as you drive to work, speaking on the phone at the same time. Oops, does that sound like a productivity booster, or a death trap? Is it inevitable that more and more convergence of this kind is on the books, is it a boon or a bummer? You tell me!

Via AutoBlog
Via Gizmodo
Via Endgadget
Via Endgadget

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1. Now This is Mobile Technology! part 16
2. Now This Is Mobile Technology! part 7
3. Now This Is Mobile Technology! part 27
4. Now This is Mobile Technology. part 10
5. Now This Is Mobile Technology! part 21