The car as a mobile (as in moving) docking station

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A great post by Andrew McAfee on the technological obsolescence of car gadgets. In a time where keeping a cell phone for more than 2 years feels painfully long, a touchscreen interface in your car can be asking for trouble.

Car companies are trying to use consumer electronic integration as a differentiator.

My car has the nav/dvd/jukebox and I love it. However  I plan on  keeping this car for quite some time. That interface will be quite the antique by then when compared to other consumer electronics. My biggest concern with this car is the battery (hybrid) but second to that is the touchscreen has my climate controls, radio Everything. I would have to replace that screen at who knows how much, and being a 3+ year old car it's unlikely there will be an updated interface.

If cars were to be more modular we'd need some open interface with rules around it for safety purposes.
No movies or attention-grabbing apps should run while the car is docked. Perhaps then car companies could compete on whose car was most open and accessible. For now they provide us with a great flash while selling us a pan we intend to keep for 5 years.

Links:
http://andrewmcafee.org/2012/11/mcafee-detroit-cars-digital-obsolete-open/

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