Internet Access in Automobiles- Part 1: The Limitation Soon To Be Broken

Long time no blog! I haven't written in over a week and I apologize for that, but that's what happens when Spring Break starts! Now, while my girlfriend is in class, I think it is high time to add another exciting post in this exhilarating epic while I await her return. This week, the topic of choice is internet access and how it relates to the blog. Now, if someone tried to relate the internet with cars all of 1 year ago. Not much could be said beyond "we may show some developments soon. As of 2010 though, many car brands have established their own internet connection and web browsers. A very well known example is the MyFord Touch equipment, a innovation by Ford, that has both WiFi and an internet browser included in the package. This piece of technology is actually quite amazing; whenever the car is in "Park," the driver or passenger can use an 8" LCD touch screen to do just about anything. One can watch a movie on Hulu, reserve a room at a hotel, or check the weather of a destination. Better yet, one can buy a special internet adapter that provides wireless internet to the whole car, so backseat passengers can use any web device they want to go online while in the car. Overall, it is very convenient and an excellent new addition to the Ford cars.

Now, who has heard of the iPod/iPhone practice known as "jailbreaking?" A "jailbreak" is the process in which an advanced programmer is able to hack a system so all the applications and little extras deemed unlawful can be used. Any good programmer or person with some extra money to spend can "jailbreak" an iPod, and this practice also works on many other new technologies. As of now, these new computers in automobiles can only be accessed while the vehicle is in "Park," but I am sure that many people won't be quite accepting of that limitation. It won't be long before people "jailbreak" these vehicular computers and start going on chat roulette while driving. On the other hand, car companies, in their everlasting fight against one another, may simply start taking off the parking limitations to get more buyers. One way or another, drivers will find ways to access the internet while driving, and a person's boredom while driving alone can only be exceeded by their inability to stay off the web when it is available. I'm 100% positive that, when people are bored or have nothing better to do (even with friends), they will eventually find themselves on facebook updating their status to "omg so booooored save me," or on hulu watching an old episode of Family Guy, or even on chat roulette, attempting to find an interesting stranger to talk to while avoiding videos of male genitalia. When internet becomes available in the car, you are bound to find a way to surpass the "park" limitation so you can watch that funny youtube video your friend told you about. And with all these distractions, how can there be room for driving? Well, there really isn't. Now, I'm not trying to hate on the car companies for creating these new internet browsers in their cars. I find them to be quite neat and very helpful. I would be psyched to have one for myself; I'm sure it would come in handy. But, even though everyone could admit that it's more dangerous to drive while using a phone, people still do it. It's not really their fault; I understand people get bored and when you're bored, why not text a friend? People have a need to constantly be connected to more than their immediate surroundings, and a phone helps them do that. A computer is even more useful, with all the different social networking sites and other fun websites. People are easily distracted, they can't really help it. And that is why it is so unsafe to drive. Yes, many accidents occur because of drunk driving, sleepiness, and just simple vehicle failures, but most can be attributed to a lack of attention. And a computer in the car won't help that category; it will enhance it like dry wood enhances a flash fire.

People aren't to blame. It is our nature that must take fault. We have a tendency to act on our curiosity (which kills the cat and often times people as well). If it is there, we touch it. When we see that cup rolling on the floor of the car and it is making an annoying rattling noise, we can't put it out of our heads. Rather, we challenge ourselves to see if we can grab it and pick it up before we make that turn in three seconds onto the highway in heavy traffic conditions. It's a curse. The computer will be very handy and won't be a cause of any crash problems for a good while, but when someone finds a way around that limitation, all hell will break loose. All it will take is a guy on chat roulette to finally snap from not finding a girl after 3 hours of being parked in one spot. If, in some odd turn of events, people learn to adapt their current behaviors to the new internet accessible vehicles, driving may change for the better.