Perfect Sat Nav

Category: Random | 3 Comments | 26th January 2009

So I watched Eagle Eye last night and although the 'beyond belief' cap was required, it was a thoroughly enjoyable film. [SPOILER] In the film, the main characters are contacted by a mysterious female and cohersed into acting out various tasks she gives them over the phone. There is a scene where the two characters are trying to outrun the police and the voice is giving them directions through the sat-nav.

"Accelerate. Turn right, 200 feet. You have pursuers. "

This got me thinking. Wouldn't it be awesome if sat-navs were really like this - and they could be! A sat-nav system coupled to a rear view camera and a few other inputs could do any number of cool things. Here is my list of wanted features from a sat-nav.

Obviously its got to be able to take you to where you want to go - but you should be able to have fun on the way!
TomTom were on the money with different voice packs
Rearview camera - can be used for reversing - can also recognise cars (number plates?) and detect if a car has been following you for a period of time - you have pursuers!
If pursuers detected, sat-nav should re-route a detour to loose them!
Rearview camera can also detect tail gaters and suggest appropraite deterent - smoke, oil etc - think early Bond films!
Should interface with the car fuel guage and direct to fuel stations as appropriate.
Guidance should have a personality - it should be grumpy in the morning, sarcastic when you go wrong and should occasionaly experiment with drugs.
Should you trust it on April 1st? - Nope!