Nokia have embarked on an ambitious project to seek input from users on the form of their newest handset. Over a 2 month period, they are asking users for thoughts on features and functions for their next generation handsets.
“This is an exercise in collaboration sprinkled with some future thinking!”
There’s quite a bit that you can do with your iphone and car nowadays, you can remote start and lock them via your iphone and even steer it remotely.
The Spirit of Berlin team has developed an iPhone app to remotely control a minivan, not quite “Tomorrow Never Dies“, but its getting there.
They didn’t have to do much to the vehicle to get this working because the platform was developed for the 2007 Darpa Urban Challenge. The iPhone connects with the driving circuitry via WiFi and offers a gas button, a brake button, and a steering button to enable the accelerometer for turning. The front camera video is transmitted to the iPhone in real-time. Not available from Halfords just yet though.
There is an app that is available in US stores at the moment which connects to a Viper SmartStart hardware module installed in your car, and it allows you to control five basic functions: start your car, turn on the heat, unlock your doors or boot, and manage the car alarm. The range is effectively infinite too, since all communication is carried out over cell networks—no line of sight contact necessary.