Blackberry Storm

It seems that touch screen technology is upon us now more than ever and is not likely to end any time soon. From touch screen cell phones (on everyone’s wish list this year),  to touch screen computer screens, grocery store check outs, banks and even the postal delivery service asking you to kindly sign the touch screen.

What is the latest in touch screen technology?

Touch screens have found their way into cars. The GPS system- once seemed to signify a high tech gadget in automobiles is becoming a standard. Now, computers in cars which include GPS systems offer more than just an interactive compass. Computers being built for the next year’s model cars will replace some of the current buttons we have all come accustomed to. Soon, more small screens built in as part of the dashboard or just to the right of the steering wheel won’t provide the shock factor they once used to. Starting in 2009, Volkswagen will be installing computers in all of their new cars, whether people ask for them or not. These computers will be replacing the controls for heating, air conditioning and trip computers all within the car’s own computer. With no physical keyboard necessary, a touchpad keyboard is built within the screen, allowing the driver to touch the screen and control functions by touch. Of course there are several disclaimers addressing the owner and operator of the vehicle to only use the buttons while not driving, bringing up issues of accidents- drivers playing around with controls while they are suppose to be driving.

Other smart function of these little computers is how they are connected. If it looks like several cars with computers inside them are converging in one area over another, the computer may suggest going a different direction in order to avoid traffic congestion.

Who knows where we will find touch screen technology next. We went from having a computer mouse with touch pad technology similar to using a touch screen to laptops with their own touch pad and now touch screens on computers and other screens that let us move things around using strictly our fingertips. Cars are more technical then they have ever been and it takes a lot more skill to be an auto mechanic then it used to. Even though computers on our dashboards may seem like the cool new feature now-perhaps some day we will wonder how we ever drove a car without them.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 at 11:53 am and is filed under Touch Screen. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.