Now, inattentive driving is one thing, texting and driving appears to be another, but what if I told you that you could speak in your vehicle and that would update your Facebook status? Completely whacked right? Well, OnStar is just one of the companies recently taking on the social networking sites across the web. They are experimenting with a voice activated Facebook updates and text messaging.
The OnStar device will also read the news feed back to the driver as updates are made. Text messages will be read, as well, but the driver will be able to get the messages through Bluetooth. The steering wheel will have buttons provided for the driver to reply to texts via voice by selecting pre-set messages.
“OnStar has always operated on the premise that while the possibilities of technological innovation are endless, the company will not implement a new service simply because it’s technically feasible, it has to be the right thing to do for the customer,” OnStar said in a statement. “All of our technologies are rigorously evaluated prior to launch.”
OnStar is also teaming up with Google to create a mobile app that will allow Chevy Volt drivers to get directions sent to the vehicle via iPhone, iPod touch, Android phones and the Blackberry.
Sounds great. Really though they should be including keep-in-lane technology and front-end-collision-prevention technology — both already are available in other cars and would be great to have in the Volt. Then have complete automatic driving as the next step. The future could really be great.