Everybody knows that the Simpsons has not been funny since the nineties, but did you ever see that episode where Homer has a car full of goods that are powered by the cigarette lighter? They ranged from a TV and waffle maker to a smoke machine. They were making a joke (I didn’t laugh) about all the crazy stuff you can buy for your car these days. The truth is that you can buy just about anything for inside of your car. The cigarette lighter is a portal that allows you to suck the juice from your car battery. That means that any device capable of running on 12V of direct current may then be used in your car. Here is a selection of some of the more common ones.
The heated fan
This is a bit of a puzzler, as there are lots of ways of stopping your window from condensing up. Still, this device is quite popular. You place it on the dashboard facing the windscreen. It blows warm air onto the glass to help stop it from condensing up with water vapor. This sort of thing happens if it is very cold outside, and is more common after you have just scraped the ice off of your windscreen.
The GPS/Navigation system
This is now a more commonly used device than the actual cigarette lighter. People use their car lighters more with their sat-nav than they do to light up a cigarette. It is such a commonly seen device that cars with an exposed cigarette lighter are more likely to be broken in to. If it is possible to see that your cigarette lighter is out of its plug, the thief will assume there is a sat-nav in the glove box and will be more likely to break into your car. The same is also true if you have the classic circle impression on your windscreen (drivers beware).
Your Smartphone, MP3 Player or Camera charger
The car charger is a very common accessory for modern technology. Even the devices that do not come with a car charger will still have them on sale. They are great for charging up your electrical devices whilst driving, and because your car is supposed to keep your battery charged up as you drive, then there is little chance of you draining the car battery completely (unless you are sat there are day without driving anywhere).
The portable speed camera detector
This is a device that you mount covertly on your dashboard. It scans ahead and searches for the beams that speed traps and speed cameras use for measuring traffic speeds. It scans for those beams and warns you if they are in the road ahead. They are illegal in most states and in many English speaking countries. They are illegal because they are ways for speeders to keep speeding without getting caught. However, you can use a covert one so that nobody knows, or you can use one in a state that has no laws against them.
The hands free phone kit
This has lots of different types for you to choose from. There are some tablets that will sit up and take voice commands. There are devices that translate your voice to phone commands, and are even devices that change your music as per your voice demands. There are even devices that can play your MP3 play lists on your radio by emitting a short radio wave into your stereo. All of which may be done “hands free.”
The portable TV and DVD/Movie player
This is not a toy that you are supposed to have for the drivers benefit. You are supposed to attach the TV to the back of the car head rest so that the kids can watch it in the back. It is a little scary that some parents have a TV in their cars, as their kids probably watch too much as it is. Still, this is a more commonly seen car device these days because the cost of them has come down quite a bit. They are more readily available thanks to the Internet and if you do have troublesome children during car journeys, then a good dose of Sponge Bob Square Pants may shut them up for a while.
A food or drinks warmer
Yes, you read that right and it is one of the few inventions that actually originated in the USA. If it is for food then it is a box that you put your takeaway into and it keeps it warm until you get home. If it is for drinks then it is a small holder that is slightly warm. It keeps your drinks warm but not hot (as that would be dangerous). They are some for keeping things cool, but they are less popular.
Kate Funk is a freelance writer at www.aussiessay.com. She is mainly focusing on technology, gadgets and all the latest trends which are interesting for networking enthusiasts.
