过去，汽车纯粹是一种交通工具。人们关心发动机、风格和内饰的舒适性。这些事情仍然很重要，但今天同样重要(importance today)的是车辆的技术支持程度。
现代车辆提供数字仪表板，可显示手机上的应用程序、信息娱乐系统、360 度摄像头、无钥匙进入等等。但现实情况是，许多人驾驶汽车多年，有时直到发动机熄火。这些较旧的车辆可能具有一些现代功能，但不具备与当今移动技术(technology today)完美契合的那种进步。
无论您的车辆的年龄如何，以某种方式使您的车辆与您所生活的技术生活保持一致不是很好吗？好吧，这 10 个有用的小工具将使几乎任何车辆都感觉(vehicle feel)现代。以下是如何让您的汽车变得智能(car smart)。
1. 关键跟踪器
丢失钥匙几乎肯定会在某个时候发生在每个人身上。无论您花 10 分钟还是一个小时来寻找它们，都是浪费时间并产生焦虑。您绝对不必走这条路，因为Tile和Chipolo等公司提供了几种电池供电的钥匙查找器，平均售价约为 25 美元。
这些跟踪器很棒，因为您可以将它们附加到几乎任何您不想丢失的东西上。使用连接到追踪器的应用程序，您可以通过GPS找到钥匙的位置，或按下按钮使追踪器响铃以便您听到。
2. 行车记录仪
直到最近几年，人们才开始更关心记录路上发生的事情。此后，行车记录仪已成为驾驶员非常常见的小工具，可以将其固定在仪表板或挡风玻璃上。(Dash)
目前，市场上最热门的行车记录仪之一是Garmin (dash cams)Dash Cam 55(Garmin Dash Cam 55)，售价约为 200 美元。它结构紧凑，分辨率高，适合行车记录仪(dash cam)。它会自动存储重要的视频片段，并用时间和地点(time and location)标记素材。
让它真正酷的是语音控制(voice control)等功能；警报，例如何时降低速度或铁路道口(railroad crossing)即将到来；和Travelapse，它可以加速您的旅行记录，以便您可以将它们作为有趣的镜头(fun footage)与他人分享。
3.蓝牙适配器
CD 已成为过去十年。问题是，旧车没有那种可以轻松享受现代设备媒体的技术。这就是蓝牙适配器可以提供帮助的地方。
有以下三种：
- AUX 输入适配器直接插入您的AUX 输入(AUX input)。TaoTronics、Mpow和HAVIT型号都很受欢迎，价格低于 30 美元。
- FM 发射器插入插座并使用 FM 频率(outlet and use FM frequency)进行发射。Nulaxy生产了几款很受欢迎且价格低于 30 美元的产品。
- 像Jabra(Jabra) 这样的遮阳板式连接器通过自己的扬声器系统传输音频。(transmit audio)这些往往比其他蓝牙连接器贵一点，超过 120 美元，因为它们提供了卓越的音频，没有任何反馈或连接方面(feedback or connectivity)的麻烦。
无论(Regardless)哪个选项最适合您的需求，您现在都可以随时随地收听Spotify 和播客(Spotify and podcasts)，即使您只有CD 或磁带播放器(CD or cassette player)。
4. 汽车跟踪和诊断适配器
随着汽车制造商利用大数据来提高车辆性能，旧车也可以拥有这种奢侈。只需在仪表板下插入汽车跟踪和诊断(car tracking and diagnostics)适配器，如 AutoNation 的Automatic，您就可以开始将它收集的有关您的汽车的数据同步到应用程序。
这些数据会告诉您车辆在哪里、为什么要打开检查引擎灯(check engine light)以及何时需要进行一些维护。要访问所有数据和功能，Automatic可免费使用 6 个月，然后每月 5 美元。或者您可以免费使用它的基本功能三年。
5. HUDWAY 应用程序和显示玻璃
先进(Advanced)的数字仪表板在当今的新车中很常见，提供触摸屏功能来控制从交流电和热量(AC and heat)到GPS的一切。实施这样的售后市场系统是可能的，但它们可能非常昂贵。适用于任何车辆的实惠替代品是HUDWAY Glass及其应用程序，售价约为 50 美元。
HUDWAY Glass是一款手机支架(phone mount)，带有一块专门设计的玻璃，可以捕捉手机屏幕(phone screen)的反射。
像Go 和 Widgets这样的(Go and Widgets)HUDWAY应用程序提供了您需要的有关方向、速度、交通等的所有信息。它们的信息基本上投射到玻璃上，供您在驾驶时查看。您还可以连接更多应用以获得其他见解。
6.智能轮胎安全监控器
如果你的轮胎瘪了，你就不能开车。而且，如果它们变得缓慢，最终可能会导致燃油性能(fuel performance)不佳，或者更糟糕的是，会损坏轮胎并最终导致爆胎。
现代车辆通常包含某种传感器，当您的轮胎压力低时会告诉您——(tire pressure–older)旧车肯定不会——但它们的警报并不总是准确或实时的。Nonda 的ZUS 智能轮胎安全监视器(ZUS Smart Tire Safety Monitor’s)是。
ZUS 监视器(ZUS monitor)插入您的 USB车载充电器，并从您更换轮胎阀盖所用的安全防盗传感器收集数据。(car charger and collects data)除了轮胎缓慢漏气的实时警报外，ZUS还会在您的(ZUS)胎压(tire pressure)严重偏低时通过其应用程序通知您，这样您就可以防止爆胎。
它还会向您显示个人轮胎历史记录(tire history)，以便您了解特定轮胎可能存在严重问题的地方。它运行你大约 120 美元。
7. 支持 Alexa 的 2 端口 USB 车载充电器
你的手机和家里都有像Alexa这样的虚拟助手——为什么不把Alexa也带进车里呢？借助Roav VIVA，您可以在播放音乐、拨打电话、获取路线等方面为您提供终极的免提体验，因为VIVA包含 45,000 多种Alexa技能供您利用。
一个不错的附加功能是，您还可以使用VIVA(VIVA)的两个PowerIQ充电端口为设备快速充电。因此，虽然您的汽车可能来自付费电话时代(pay-phone era)，但您仍然可以使用VIVA等现代通信技术启用它，价格约为 60 美元。
8.空气净化器
我们都喜欢新车的气味(new-car smell)，但如果你不保持车内清洁，它很快就会消失。即使自 80 年代以来就安装了机舱空气过滤(air filtration)器，但几年后，车辆开始闻起来并感觉有点霉味的情况并不少见。它不仅是一种难闻的气味，还意味着你的空气不是那么健康。飞利浦(Philips) GoPure紧凑型(GoPure Compact)空气净化器可以为您解决这个问题，价格约为 150 美元。
GoPure Compact(GoPure Compact)非常适合任何车辆，尤其是带有不可避免的旧空气过滤(air filtration)系统的旧车辆，这些系统不如新车型先进。GoPure 的独特技术可消除高达 99% 的有毒气体和化学污染物，并通过显示蓝色（良好）、黄色（一般）和红色（差）的传感器告诉您车辆空气的清洁程度，以便您了解自己的情况'正在呼吸。
而且您不必担心每次开车时都会打开它——它会在您打开汽车时打开，并让您知道何时需要更换过滤器。
9. GOFAR 里程记录器和诊断监视器
您可能可以在仪表板上查看总体和每次行程的车辆里程(vehicle mileage)
，但除了距离之外，数字并不能真正告诉您太多信息，如果您出于业务原因需要报告油耗和里程，这并不是很有帮助。更重要的是，除了每加仑英里数的一般指标外，无法判断您的驾驶效率如何。
对于已经获得比现代同类产品低得多的燃油经济性(fuel economy)的旧车来说尤其如此。GOFAR可以帮助解决这些问题和其他问题。
您只需插入其诊断适配器并通过其应用程序开始跟踪和记录里程(tracking and logging miles)，该应用程序旨在通过您可以导出的索赔总数和电子表格报告轻松报告商务旅行。该适配器还为您提供有关车辆健康状况的数据，使用与诊断问题和排除误报相同的技术机制。
除了里程跟踪和诊断之外， (mileage tracking and diagnostics)GOFAR的另一个组件是Ray。它位于您的仪表板上，如果您的驾驶效率高，则显示蓝灯，否则显示红灯。
通过实时了解如何改变您的驾驶习惯，这可以帮助您节省油费。然后，您可以在应用程序中对旅行进行评分，并将您的进度与其他人的进度进行比较以真正提高。
10. 车模
归根结底，您可能没有最先进的车辆在路上行驶，即使您正在利用售后市场的小工具来增强旧车的性能，但您仍然可以成为路上最有礼貌的司机并展示它与CarMoji。
CarMoji背后的概念很简单。当您不小心做了某事惹恼了其他司机时，您可以按下一个遥控按钮，让他们知道这不是恶意的，该按钮会点亮您贴在后窗上的笑脸六秒钟，然后自动关闭。您将得到身后的人挥手或微笑，而不是令人不快的手势或喇叭。一个按钮大约 20 美元，覆盖层大约 10 美元。
旧遇新
将这项技术添加到您的车辆中不会使其像今天下线的计算机模型那样先进。但是，这些小工具可以帮助您在高科技生活方式和低科技汽车之间实现更无缝的过渡——它们肯定会提高您的驾驶体验。
最大的好处是，通过将这项技术应用到任何车辆中，您不必为新车投入 3 万美元或更多。尽可能长时间地保持你运行的那个吸盘 - 并尽量不要让引擎卡住。
10 Useful Gadgets to Make Practically Any Car Smart
It used to be cars were purely a mode of
transportation. People cared about the engine, the style, the comfortability of
the interior. These things still matter, but of equal importance todаy is how
technologically enаbled a vehіcle is.
Modern vehicles offer digital dashboards that
display the apps on your phone, infotainment, 360-degree cameras, keyless
entry, and much, much more. But the reality is, many people drive their
vehicles for years, sometimes until the engines seize. These older vehicles may
have some modern capabilities, but not the kind of advancements that align well
with mobile technology today.
Wouldn’t it be nice to somehow align your
vehicle with the technological life you live, regardless of your vehicle’s age?
Well, these 10 useful gadgets will make practically any vehicle feel modern.
Here’s how you can make your car smart.
1. Key Tracker
Losing your keys is pretty much guaranteed to happen to everyone at some point. Whether you spend 10 minutes or an hour searching for them, it’s time wasted and anxiety created. You definitely don’t have to go this route, given there are several battery-powered key finders available from companies like Tile and Chipolo, which run about $25 on average.
These trackers are great because you can
attach them to pretty much anything you don’t want to go missing. Using an app
connected to the tracker, you can find the location of your keys via GPS or
press a button that makes the tracker ring so you can hear it.
2. Dash Cam
It wasn’t until recent years that people
started caring more about recording what happens on the road. Dash cams have
since become a very common gadget for drivers to stick to their dashboard or
windshield.
Right now, one of the hottest dash cams on the market is the Garmin Dash Cam 55, which is about $200. It’s compact with great resolution for a dash cam. It stores important video clips automatically and stamps footage with a time and location.
What makes it really cool are features like voice control; alerts like when to reduce your speed or when a railroad crossing is coming up; and Travelapse, which speeds up recordings of your trips so you can share them as fun footage with others.
3. Bluetooth Adapter
CDs have been a thing of the past for a
decade. The problem is, older cars don’t have the kind of technology that makes
it easy to enjoy media from modern devices. That’s where bluetooth adapters can
help.
There are three types:
- AUX-in adapters plug directly into your AUX input. TaoTronics, Mpow and HAVIT models are all popular and fall under about $30.
- FM transmitters plug into an outlet and use FM frequency to transmit. Nulaxy makes several that are popular and fall under about $30.
- Visor-style connectors like Jabra transmit audio through their own speaker systems. These tend to be a bit more than other bluetooth connectors, upwards of $120, because they provide superior audio without any hassling with feedback or connectivity.
Regardless of which option suits your needs
best, you’ll be able to listen to Spotify and podcasts on the go now, even if
all you have is a CD or cassette player.
4. Car Tracking and Diagnostics
Adapter
As automakers leverage big data to improve the performance of their vehicles, older cars can have this luxury, too. By simply plugging in a car tracking and diagnostics adapter like AutoNation’s Automatic under your dashboard, you can start syncing data it collects about your car to an app.
This data informs you of things like where
your vehicle is, why you have a check engine light on, and when it’s time to
have some maintenance done. To access all data and features, Automatic is free
for six months, then $5 a month. Or you can access it’s basic features free for
three years.
5. HUDWAY Apps and Display Glass
Advanced digital dashboards are commonplace in new vehicles today, offering touch screen capabilities to control everything from AC and heat to GPS. It’s possible to implement aftermarket systems like this, but they can be pretty expensive. A great affordable alternative that works for any vehicle is HUDWAY Glass, which runs about $50, and its apps.
HUDWAY Glass is a phone mount with a piece of
specially designed glass that captures the reflection of your phone screen.
HUDWAY apps like Go and Widgets provide all the info you need about directions,
speed, traffic, etc. Their information is essentially projected onto the glass
for you to see as you’re driving. There are more apps you can connect for other
insights, too.
6. Smart Tire Safety Monitor
You can’t drive if your tires are flat. And if they’re going flat slowly, you could end up with poor fuel performance or, worse, ruin your tires and eventually cause them to blow out.
Modern vehicles usually incorporate some kind of sensor that tells you when you have low tire pressure–older cars definitely don’t–yet their alerts aren’t always accurate or in real-time. Nonda’s ZUS Smart Tire Safety Monitor’s are.
The ZUS monitor plugs into your USB car charger and collects data from the secure theft-protected sensors you replace your tires’ valve caps with. In addition to real-time alerts of slow tire leaks, ZUS informs you through its app when you have critically low tire pressure so you can prevent a blowout.
It also shows you individual tire history so you can understand where you’re potentially having acute problems with specific tires. It runs you about $120.
7. Alexa-Enabled 2-Port USB Car
Charger
You have virtual assistants like Alexa on your phone and in your home–why not bring Alexa into the car as well? With the Roav VIVA, you can, giving you the ultimate hands-free experience when it comes to playing music, making calls, getting directions, and more considering VIVA packs 45,000-and-counting Alexa skills for you to leverage.
A nice add-on is that you can also charge
devices extremely quickly with VIVA’s two PowerIQ charging ports. So while
you’re car may be from the pay-phone era, you can still enable it with modern
communications technologies like VIVA for about $60.
8. Air Purifier
We all love that new-car smell, but it fades pretty quickly if you aren’t keeping your interior clean. Even with cabin air filtration in place since the ‘80s, after a few years, it’s not uncommon for a vehicle to begin to smell and feel a bit musty. Not only is it an unpleasant odor, it means your air isn’t that healthy. The Philips GoPure Compact air purifier can solve this for you for around $150.
The GoPure Compact is great for any vehicle, especially older vehicles with inevitably older air filtration systems that are less advanced than those in newer models. GoPure’s unique technology eliminates up to 99% of toxic gases and chemical pollutants, and it tells you how clean your vehicle’s air is with a sensor that displays blue (good), yellow (fair), and red (poor) so you know what you’re breathing.
And you don’t have to worry about turning it on every time you drive–it turns on when you turn your car on and lets you know when it’s time to change the filter.
9. GOFAR Mileage Logger and
Diagnostic Monitor
You might be able to see vehicle mileage
overall and per trip on your dashboard, but numbers don’t really tell you much
other than distance, which isn’t very helpful if you need to report fuel
consumption and mileage for business reasons. What’s more, there’s no way to
tell how efficiently you’re driving, aside from a general indicator of miles
per gallon.
This is especially the case for older vehicles that already get much lower fuel economy than their modern counterparts. GOFAR can help solve these and other problems.
You simply plug in its diagnostics adapter and start tracking and logging miles through its app, which is designed to make it easy to report on for business trips with claim totals and spreadsheet reports you can export. The adapter also feeds you data on the health of your vehicle, usings the same technology mechanics use to diagnose issues and rule out false positives.
On top of mileage tracking and diagnostics, another component of GOFAR is the Ray. This sits on your dashboard and indicates with a blue light if you’re driving efficiently, a red light if you aren’t.
This helps you save money on gas by understanding in real-time how to change your driving habits. You can then score trips in the app and compare your progress against others’ to really improve.
10. CarMoji
At the end of the day, you might not have the
most advanced vehicle on the road, even if you’re leveraging aftermarket
gadgets that enhance the capabilities of your older vehicle, but you can still
be the most courteous driver on the road and show it with CarMoji.
The concept behind CarMoji is simple. When you
accidentally do something to annoy another driver, you can let them know it
wasn’t malicious by pushing a remote button that lights up the happy face
you’ve attached to your back window for six seconds before it automatically
turns off. Instead of an unpleasant gesture or a horn, you’ll get a hand-wave
or a smile from the person behind you. It’s about $20 for a button and $10 for
an overlay.
Old Meets New
Adding this tech to your vehicle won’t make it
as inherently advanced as the computer-like models rolling off the assembly
lines today; however, these gadgets can help you create a more seamless
transition between your high-tech lifestyle and your low-tech auto–and they’ll
definitely enhance your driving.
The biggest benefit is, by implementing this
tech into any vehicle, you won’t have to drop $30k or more for a new car. Keep
that sucker you have running as long as you can–and try not to let the engine
seize.
