By Neil Pagulayan Certain “smart features” found in many brands of cars these days were born out of the need to increase driver and passenger safety. With our digital devices able to do more than just make and accept calls, it’s not unusual to have numerous video and messaging apps, music streaming apps open and also SMS. These are a distraction when behind the wheel and taking your eyes off the road for even a split second can spell disaster. Many entertainment systems can install familiar mobile apps like Waze Ford’s Sync allows the driver to devote more of his attention to driving the vehicle by allowing him to pair his phone via Bluetooth to Ford’s entertainment system and make or take calls or have the system read texts and change radio station or music source without taking his eyes off the road and in doing so, making it safer for the vehicle’s occupants and the pedestrians outside. Ford’s Sync is an example of technologies that allow you to keep your eyes on the road. Android and Apple have tied up with car manufacturers and entertainment systems, called Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. They’ve come up with head units that allow you to pair your phone and integrate apps or certain functions onto a car’s larger screen, lessening your need to pickup your phone and get distracted. Cellphones are not just a source of distraction, but as technology has advanced, these devices can be used integrally with cars not only as an entertainment system, but as an additional interface between the vehicle and the real world. We use navigation apps like Waze and Google Maps to find our way around our environment. By the time cars are fully autonomous and able to self-drive, they’ll probably use more advanced versions of these apps to make their way around town. Smartphones are becoming more and more powerful and thus ensure that you’ll always be able to integrate the latest and fastest “brains” in your car ensuring you’ll always be up to date. There are already Earth-friendly technologies built into electric cars that allow you to use your excess charge in powering certain parts of your household to save electricity. If your electricity provider allows it, they can buy your excess electric charge and take it back into the power grid for use by others in turn lessening the need to generate electricity by using what is already available. Of course, for this to really have positive environmental effects — electricity generation should be earth friendly, too.