Image by stephenhanafin via Flickr

Technology is all around us. From our cell phones to the other electronic devices, we see technology is everything, including our cars. The more advanced we get, the more technology is being put into our cars. This is the eight latest technology advances to creep into our cars.

The internet has come to our cars. While pure Wi-Fi hasn’t come to our car yet, Autonet Mobile has. This using a portable router mounted in the car that uses a 3G network for an uninterrupted signal through blind spots and tunnels. The router will cost you $399, while the service itself is from $30 to $60 a month.

While we have all seen the camera located on the back bumpers to help us not hit anything, the use of cameras hasn’t stopped there. The new idea is multiple camera, such as BMW’s Valeo multicamera system which uses three to five cameras which display a panoramic view when parking where you can see the precise distances indicated by the line on the image. It also includes an alarm when you get to close to an object. Infiniti Around View Monitor has four wide angle cameras mounted in every direction to give you a 360 degree view for parking.

For the parents that have teenagers behind the wheel, there is now a technology for you. Ford now has a system called MyKey which limit’s the speed to 80 miles per hour, but this isn’t the only thing. It can also be programmed to limit the audio volume and to sound a continuous alarm if the seat belts are not buckled. While not offered in all Fords yet, it won’t take to much time before it is.

Another technology that will be a hit for parents is the LiveViewGPS Live Trac PT-10. You can pick on up for about $550 with a $40 per month subscription, you can use the internet to track your car, which is updated every 10 seconds. Being small and portable, you can move it from vehicle to vehicle as well as alert parents through their cell phone if the vehicle’s preset speed threshold is exceeded or if it enter or exits certain areas. This isn’t just useful to parents, but to business owners as well.

With the Night View Assist Plus, found on Mercedes-Benz, it can pinpoint pedestrians and highlighting them on a dashboard display. As the space closes between you and the pedestrian, a warning appear on the monitor, which also shows you that the pedestrian is moving as well.

If the camera’s are not enough, some cars have a rear mounted radar. While it has been around for a few years and alerts driver to unseen objects immediately behind them, the new one searches for approaching cross traffic. When spotted, an alarm sounds. Chryslers is the Cross Path Detection System and Ford’s is the Cross Traffic Alert.

There is also a technology which illuminates or dims your lights according to approaching traffic. A camera mounted on rearview mirror detects when your closing in on oncoming traffic and disengages the high beams. Some even gradually increase or decrease the light distribution based on distance of approaching traffic. During a turn, it dims your lights and once you are around the corner and it doesn’t detect any traffic it reengages the high beams again.

Lastly, there is a system which measures a driver’s fitness and issues warnings when a driver is judged to be overly tired or impaired. The system remember a driver’s normal behavior and develops a baseline profile by continually measuring factors such as speed, lateral acceleration, steering wheel angle, pedal use and so on. Then it uses this information to show any differences and alerts the driver is some are found.

Technology is growing within the walls of our cars. From helping us drive better to making it just more convenient for us, there is a large variety of products waiting of us to use.