Uses for an I-Opener in your car:
1. MP3 Player
2. Detailed GPS
3. Store Shopping Lists
4. Wireless Web Browser
5. Data Recorder (explained below)
6. Night vision while driving using IR USB cameras.
Explanation of data recorder:
You could setup a usb camera pointing out the front of your car, then one pointing out the back of you car. That'll give you extra vision. You can record these images, which would be great evidence if you were in an accident. You can place proximity sensors at each corner of the car, and plot distances to objects in real time graphically on the computer, so you know how far you are away from objects (great for parking, if you suck).
Ideas for getting information into your car:
Ok, so you have your I-Opener in there, now how do you get stuff onto it?
1.You can set up a wireless hub in your garage so when you pull in, you can sync to your home computer (like a pda).
2. Wireless hub in your garage so you can download shopping lists and MP3's onto your I-Opener
3. Wireless hub so you can download a Trip Tic onto your car, so your GPS can help you find your way to your vacation spot.
Ideas for displaying your desktop during the day/night:
1. Have the I-Opener on it's original stand, velcroed to the floor (so it doesn't move, and you can take it out easily)
2. Mount the I-Opener to the roof, so it swings down like a visor.
3. For Night: Come up with a HUD (heads up display) idea, using a see-through LCD panel that'll display everything in red (less bright). It'll be placed before the windshield right in front of the driver. The driver will be able to look directly through it, or focus on it to see the displayed data. This would be handy for a night vision hookup. You could output the IR Camera data to the HUD, so the objects shown on the screen match up with the actual road.
4. For Night: Get an LCD projector, mount it under the hood pointing out the front of the grill of the car. Your desktop could be projected onto the road 10 feet infront of your car. Everything would have to be weather proofed, and vibration dampeners added.
Ideas for inputting data.
1. Set the keyboard on the passenger seat (duh)
2. Get a Twiddler
3. Voice recognition.
4. Turn all those blank accessory slots into data entry points. Ie: keybads, switches, buttons, etc...
5. Touch screen LCD panel
Car automation ideas:
1. If you have powered seats and mirrors, you can hook up the I-Opener into your electrical system, and let it re-adjust your mirrors, seat, etc... after another driver has messed with everything. Personal settings. (Some cars already come equipped with this)
2. Auto iginition. Press a button on a remote keypad and the computer will unlock your doors and get your car ready to drive. The computer can sense if the temp. is under 32 degrees F, and defrost the windows automatically, get the heat going, and possibly start the windshild wipers. If it's hot out, the computer can adjust the air conditioning, and roll down windows. Climate control.
3. Don't try this at home idea: Set up a sensor array to detect the white or yellow (depends what state) line painted on the road. You can make automatic pilot this way. The computer will keep the car X feet away from the strip, and using proximity sensors, speed up or slow down the car, if it senses a slower, or faster object ahead. This idea is only practical for long highway driving or interstate roads (no stoplights). Possibly take the idea of one of those small line-following robots, and adapt it.
Well, those are my ideas that i have come up with as I've been using my I-Opener in the car. Some I have implemented, and others are on the list. Before performing the car modifications, make sure it is legal in your state first.
I would like input on my ideas, and if someone has other ideas to add, please do!
