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B y Frank S. W ashington
Auto Software That Can Do It All
steel shell, weighs 8.5 lbs and uses a six-
pin, ultra hardened cylinder lock with
three coded keys. This may seem like
over-kill, but security experts can dis
lodge the thing in a little more than 10
minutes. However, they say that car
thieves don't want to spend more than
two minutes stealing a car or its air bag.
Visit www.disklock.com for more info.
Paint That Changes With Lighting
One of Europe's leading software
developers, SmartMove NV, has devel
oped what it calls a fully functional
Java- based open software solution for
an automobilie’s entire telematics
pipeline. In layman's language, that
means the system can accommodate
any new programs — Internet access,
voice activation, touch screen operation
or satellite radio. The system will also
store relevant billing, security and
authentication software. And it is
"future proof,” which means it can
accommodate changing technologies.
Now, according to SmartMove, 80 per
cent of development time and money
can be spent on content, rather than
the other way around. For more infor
mation visit www.smartmove-us.com.
Auto Tlwtt Devico
Though hi-tech is always reaching
new altitudes, there is something to be
said for low-tech. In this case, it is
Disklock of San Gabriel, Calif. The
company has created an anti-theft
device that covers the entire steering
wheel, preventing theft of the vehicle
and the driver-side air bag. Disklock is
made from a 12-gauge, heat treated
African Americans On Wheels
in the uppermost consciousness of the
driving public. Johnson Control has
developed a market-ready system that is
meant to ease some of the concern. It is
a tire pressure monitoring system,
which includes an integrated display in
the rear view mirror. As a dealer-
installed accessory, the system provides
warning alerts and readouts about low
tire pressure that can be seen on display
in the rear view mirror. The system will
also sound an alert. Johnson Controls
began marketing the PSI mirror at the
beginning of this year. Visit www.john-
soncontrols.com for more information.
Universal Cell Phone System
One of the biggest sellers in the
aftermarket has always been paint. And
ChromaFlair is a paint that is catching
on with those folks who want some
thing special in the color of their vehi
cles. Or, should it be colors of their vehi
cles? That's because ChromaFlair,
developed by Flex Products of Santa
Rosa, Calif., uses layered pigments that
reflect light. The result gives
ChromaFlair the ability to change col
ors depending on the light and the
angle from which the vehicle is viewed.
About 15 brands of ChromaFlair
enhanced paint are currently sold
worldwide. Visit www.Colorshift.com
for more info.
In the wake of the recent recall of
millions of Firestone tires, tire safety is
Cellport Systems has developed a
voice activated cell phone system that
can be used in any vehicle and with any
cell phone. It has a universal docking
system and phone specific pocket
adapters that accept a wide range of cell
phones. While research found that 79
percent of cell phone owners change
phones every 18 months, they only pur
chase a new vehicle every seven years.
The Cellport system was shown at
SEMA in two General Motors concept
vehicles, the Chevrolet Avalanche Base
Camp and the GMC Savana Pro van.
Visit www.cellport.com for more infor
mation.
www.onwhceLsinc.com