"SMART" CARS: HIGH-TECK COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS HELP KEEP TODAY'S DRIVERS SAFE, ON RIGHT TRACK

Auto interiors reflect computerization in today's automobile.

"Night Vision:" High-tech eyes of the future.

Cars have come a long ways from the day when starting the ignition meant turning a crank at the front of the car, leaving many a bruised, and even, broken thumb.

Today, as a driver punches in a remote, keyless code to open the door, things start happening inside some vehicles -- seats automatically adjust to the owner's liking, the radio starts playing, tuned to a special station at just the right volume.

Computers prepare the car for its driver, by automatically setting the seat, rear view mirror and radio station and volume and air-conditioning and heating, recalling the driver's preference as to position of the seat, rear view mirrors, audio control and the personal preference for temperature.

Soon a motorist might spend some "down time" of a traffic jam reading e-mail, checking the balance in the family checkbook or finding out last night's sports scores.

A passenger in the car might surf the Internet.

Or, the child in the back seat might play a video game.

Today's cars have become a complex system of rolling electronics, mirroring the computer age in which we live.

Computers can decipher when the car needs a tune-up, and which spark plug is bad.

They can tell the owner when the car needs an oil change and when a tire is losing air, and which tire it is.

There's more ... much more.

Headlights can turn on by sensing how dark it is outside, on-board diagnostic abilities alert the driver if any the computerized function starts to malfunction.,

If a problem occurs, the "service engine soon" sign appears, advising the driver to have the car checked by a mechanic.

The computer also stores a trouble code, indicating the precise nature of a problem. The code can be read using a simple diagnostic tool, making it easier for the mechanic to find the problem.

The system can spot many types of malfunctions early, before they become a major problem.

A "roadside center" provides owners of some vehicles to access for minor reports and emergency situations.

The center is never closed and is available in all 50 states, providing help in case of a lockout, flat tire, jump-starting a vehicle and other emergencies.

The computer system provides calculations on gas mileage, oil levels, tire pressures and coolant data.

A mobile communication system links drivers with a communications center, where advisers are available to provide all kinds of assistance.

Onboard systems permit drivers to contact the center with the push of a button. The center adviser, using a GPS, can find the problem vehicle on a digital map and perform a number of services.

Other services provided by computer systems include theft detection, notification, stolen vehicle tracking, emergency service, remote diagnostics, route support, remote door unlock and a wide range of services, including hotel and travel reservation.

If certain repairs can't be done by "on the spot" contact with the center, the technician arranges the transportation of the car to a dealership.

The average response time for these emergencies is 10 minutes.

Today's "roadside center" systems are known by many names -- OnStar, RESCU, Lojack, Airtouch Teletrac, OnGuard Tracker, Autolink (there are others) -- depending on the automotive company, offer comprehensive communications systems.

Most offer GPS technology linking motorist with centers that offer information on hotels, service stations, restaurants, travel tips.

GPS technology informs the center if an air bag has been deployed, or if a vehicle has been stolen.

If a motorist locks a key in the are, GPS is available to help. A call to its cellular phone with the property security clearance can get the doors to open.

The computerized system can be activated with the simple push of a button.

There's more computerization on some of today's cars than on the early Mercury space ships, said one local auto specialist.

The shop manual tells the story.

A shop manual for one 1972 automobile model had 168 pages. Today's shop manual for a comparable model has hundreds of thousands of pages, on CD Rom.

"It's amazing," said another local auto technician. "There are only three or four items under the hood that a customer may need to look at, and they're plainly marked."

These include the oil dipstick, water (radiator) cap and the dipstick for transmission.,

Turning to the future, "high-tech eyes" will help drivers see in the dark.

"We'll be offering a factory-installed option called Night Vision in one of our models," said a GM official.

Cadillac will offer the sensor device behind the grill and will allow drivers to see objects five times farther than with low beams and three times farther than with high beams.

Night Vision uses infrared technology, cameras and mirrors to project objects detected by the device onto the windshield. Because the images are in the driver's peripheral vision, the driver can see the display and road simultaneously.

Thermal-imaging technology has been available since the 1960s. It has been used by the military and some commercial sources, but the cost per system has been prohibitive. The new technology will be exclusive to the Cadillac DeVille for the 2000 model year.

The high-tech beat goes on in the automotive field as navigation systems combined global positioning systems, onboard computer, cellular phones and personal services to keep drivers safe and on the right track.