It"s called Park Assist...
It"s called Park Assist Stop (PAS), and uses ultrasonic technology to judge how near the vehicle is to an object front or rear, just like normal sensors. However, the new device has one important difference - rather than simply sounding an alarm when you are getting close, it automatically applies the car"s brakes. Dan Need from Bosch UK explained: "Sometimes people ignore the warning sounds of current sensors, hoping to get a few extra millimetres closer and end up reversing too far, having a bump. This system prevents this by applying the brakes. Also, current parking sensors are no help if you accidentally slip and press the throttle too hard. Our set-up stops that as well."
So you reckon satellite...
take it with you when you leave the car and it will help you track down your vehicle in the most packed parking area. A smartphone with CoPilot GPS navigation software will also save your location ò€“ essential for returning holidaymakers when tackling the airportò€™s long-stay car park.20: VIEW A BLOCKBUSTER
Film files are too large to be handled by current windscreen-mounted sat-navs. However, they could easily be played on double DIN-sized in-dash entertainment systems that incorporate sat-nav as standard ò€“ such as Pioneerò€™s AVIC-F900BT or the DNX 5220BT.
CD and DVD compatibility is included in these high-end packages, as are radio and iPod connections, and Halfords sells them for Ò£800 and Ò£1,000 respectively. Just remember to leave the viewing to passengers, unless youò€™re parked!
21: CONTROL YOUR HOME
The Panasonic Strada F-Class will not only navigate to and from your house, but also let you remotely control what goes on inside it ò€“ from setting the DVD timer to turning on the lights or heating.
Various domestic appliances can be controlled by a wireless connection activated via the touchscreen on the firmò€™s CN-HX1000D and CN-HW1000D systems. They will also send an ò€˜on my way homeò€™ message to your family, who are then able to track your progress.
You can even view real-time footage of whatò€™s going on inside the house! The price is around Ò£1,750 ò€“ although the ingenious set-ups are currently available only to drivers in Japan.
22: LISTEN TO A CELEBRITY
Add a little fun to your sat-nav by downloading an alternative voice for announcements. Various dulcet tones are offered by some manufacturers, while a selection of celebrity soundalikes ò€“ such as Del Boy, Victor Meldrew, and Smashy and Nicey ò€“ are available for Garmin and TomTom set-ups. They cost from Ò£1.99 on the www.celebrityvoices.co.uk site.
Or pretend youò€™re Michael Knight from the hit Eightiesò€™ TV show and get your directions from the original voice of on-board ò€˜computerò€™ KITT, with the special Knight Rider sat-nav system from Mio. Itò€™s currently available only in the US, and even makes Knight Riderò€™s characteristic whooshing noise and pulsates a pair of red lights on start-up.
23: TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS
You can snap a photograph through the windscreen on the move with the Navman N60. It will then be able to navigate you back to the spot where you pressed the shutter. Meanwhile, in a variation on a theme, the N Drive G800 shows you exactly where you are by displaying satellite images of your route, rather than the usual graphics.
24: LOCATE YOUR MATES
Fellow TomTom owners can use the Buddies feature to see whoò€™s nearby. Check your friendsò€™ position on the map and arrange to meet up via SMS messages ò€“ then use the satellite navigation to take you to the rendezvous point.
25: BE ENTERTAINED
Laugh your way up the M6 with 230 Miles of Love ò€“ a series of amusing sketches triggered as you pass certain points. The worldò€™s first ò€˜sat-comò€™ or ò€˜GPS-assisted comedyò€™, it can be downloaded for free at www.230milesoflove.com ò€“ although users are encouraged to make a donation to charity. To get a flavour, listen to Welcome to the North ò€“ the first of the six ò€˜locative mediaò€™ episodes ò€“ on your PC.
Meanwhile, CoPilot users can amuse passengers with spoof announcements from Emma Clarke, the voice of London Underground. See the CoPilot site at www.alk.eu.com to download it for free.
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