Autoblog

Smack Attack turns your steering wheel into a drum kit

Zach Bowman — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 14:01:00 EST

We'll admit it: we're plenty guilty of using our steering wheel as an impromptu drum kit for awesome traffic solo performances. And by "awesome traffic solo performances," we really mean, "fits of off-beat epileptic flailing." But that's neither here nor there.

One company is out to turn absent-minded steering wheel drumming into a game with a special wheel cover. Called the Smack Attack, the gizmo features eight touch sensors that produce drum sounds on top of the music pumping from your iPhone music library. If that seems like a massive bout of distracted driving waiting to happen, its creators say the device could actually keep drivers focused by engaging them.

We suppose anything that keeps a driver's mind from wandering off is a step in the right direction, and Smack Attack isn't attached to any sort of game. It just lets you make fun noises by whacking your steering wheel. Buyers can also download songs without the drum part so that the user can drop his or her own beats. Check out a test demonstration of the Smack Attack in action in the video below.

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Smack Attack turns your steering wheel into a drum kit originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 21 Apr 2013 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ryan Hunter-Reay explains his IndyCar's $25,000 steering wheel

George Kennedy — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Technology, Videos

Ever wondered why there are so many buttons on F1 and IndyCar steering wheels?

Road & Track decided to get the answers from a man who uses one every day: IndyCar points leader Ryan Hunter-Reay. The basic controls include a push-to-talk button that allows the driver to communicate with his crew, plus toggles for push-to-pass, water for the driver, and a pit-lane cruiser button that caps the IndyCar's speed. The latter is protected by a guard so it's not inadvertently activated, which happened to Hunter-Reay last year in Brazil.

Watch the video below to see Ryan Hunter-Reay explain the wheel to his race-winning ride.

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Ryan Hunter-Reay explains his IndyCar's $25,000 steering wheel originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Formula racer removes steering wheel at full speed for quick fix

Chris Tutor — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Safety, Videos, Renault

Successful racers make smart split-second decisions about what line to take, when to accelerate and brake and so on. So when recently faced with an electrical problem in his Formula Renault 2.0 car's steering wheel, Jeroen Slaghekke was faced with pitting and losing position or taking a chance.

Slaghekke is apparently a gambling man and decided to literally take fate in his own hands. Watch the video below and pay close attention at about the 11 second mark. Up comes a long straightaway, off comes the steering wheel and then, boom, three seconds later, the problem's fixed and the wheel's back on in plenty of time to take the left-hander.

It's admittedly not the most dramatic of videos, but that's exactly what makes it so impressive: There's no drama, no panic. Just quick, cool thinking that ended with Slaghekke taking 6th place at Oschersleben. We look forward to seeing how his future career turns out.

Continue reading Formula racer removes steering wheel at full speed for quick fix

Formula racer removes steering wheel at full speed for quick fix originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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German researchers investigating touchscreen steering wheel

Zach Bowman — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 18:06:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Technology

A group of German researchers are working to develop a new touchscreen steering wheel. The wheel itself is a sheet of acrylic rimmed with infrared LEDs. A single infrared camera picks up reflections on the acrylic when touched, allowing a range of gestures to operate everything from the stereo to climate control. The notion is that the tech will allow drivers to keep their eyes on the road and off the various distractions in the cabin, but we're having a hard time swallowing that premise.

Adding yet another screen to a vehicle and forcing drivers to learn a set of gestures for something as simple as turning up the volume or adjusting the air temperature is bound to only add confusion to the mix. Drivers haven't had any trouble manipulating the controls of their vehicles for decades now, so why bother reinventing the wheel? The good news is that the costs to develop and maintain a device like the touchscreen steering wheel are prohibitive enough to keep manufacturers from considering implementation. Check out the full report over at Physorg.

[Source: Physorg]

German researchers investigating touchscreen steering wheel originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Jun 2011 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steering wheels are nine times dirtier than public toilet seats

Chris Shunk — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety

Have you ever driven a vehicle that had a sticky steering wheel? It's probably one of the most disgusting feelings there is, and a report in IBN Live shows that the adhesive can be more than just grape jelly. Researchers at Queen Mary University in London claim that there are, on average, 700 different kinds of bacteria per square inch of steering wheel. That compares to 80 distinct bacteria types on a public toilet seat. Even worse, the trunk has 1,000 bacteria types per square inch. The most common form of bacteria was bacillus cereus, which can cause food poisoning.

The reason cars are filthy is simple; we simply don't clean them. While we vacuum, dust and disinfect our home on a semi-regular basis, only one third of study participants cleaned their vehicle once a year or more. That sounds pretty crazy (and a bit lazy), but think about it. You may jettison the trash and vacuum the carpet on a somewhat regular basis, but how often do you wipe down that nasty steering wheel? And when you think about how many Americans regularly eat in their vehicles, our cars could be a solid reason why we are sick as often as we are. Now we know why valet parking attendants tend to wear white gloves.

Beyond cleanliness, the study also shows that many drivers know next to nothing about their vehicles. For example, two-thirds of us don't know how to change a tire, while one third of those surveyed don't even know how to put air in the tires. It's a sad, sad world.

[Source: IBN Live | Image: Zach Bowman/AOL]

Steering wheels are nine times dirtier than public toilet seats originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Felipe Massa's new "simplified" steering wheel explained... in nine minutes

Zach Bowman — Tue, 04 May 2010 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Ferrari, Racing

Felipe Massa's steering wheel - Click above to watch video after the jump

Despite what you might assume after traveling on America's highways and byways, operating a vehicle isn't terribly complicated. At most, there are three pedals, a steering wheel and a gear shift lever. Everything else is just periphery. While the onslaught of infotainment doodads and climate control wizardry have turned the cockpit of your favorite conveyance from an exercise in simplicity into a buffet of dials and buttons, we assure you it's nothing like what Felipe Massa has to contend with.

You see, for 2010, Ferrari decided to make things easier on Mr. Massa by simplifying his steering wheel. The old tiller was a maze of controls, thanks largely to the KERS system the team employed for 2009. Now all it takes to get cozy with the interface that controls the F10 racer is a mere nine minutes of your time and a memory like a steel trap.

Is it possible to have any more respect for our favorite Formula One pilots? We didn't think so until we caught sight of the video after the jump. Somehow, imaging trying to remember whether or not the engineer said the front wing should be at a seven and the fuel consumption at a four or vice versa while lapping a circuit at mind-bending speed just makes our heads hurt.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Felipe Massa's new "simplified" steering wheel explained... in nine minutes

Video: Felipe Massa's new "simplified" steering wheel explained... in nine minutes originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 May 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steering wheel for the... iPhone?

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:32:00 EST

Filed under: Toys/Games

CTA Digital iPod steering wheel -- Click above to view the video after the jump

If you've been trying to raise your high score on that iPhone or iPod Touch racing game but you just can't get your chi going without a steering wheel, this baby could be for you. Made by CTA Digital, you clip the phone into a holder, clip the holder into the wheel, and channel your Herr Schumacher.

Splurge for the top-of-the-line model and the wheel is attached to a suction cup by an adjustable arm, and you can go past Schumi straight to Kwai Chang Caine -- that's straight up Kung Fu badness. We won't mention how it might make you look, but you're not worried about that, are you? In case you're wondering, though, you can get a glimpse in the video after the jump. Hat tip to James

[Source: cnet]

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Steering wheel for the... iPhone? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche wireless racing wheel from Fanatec

Chris Shunk — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:26:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Porsche

If you love racing games, have a PS3 or PC, and have no problem parting with a hefty $349, Fanatec's wireless steering wheel is right up your alley. Sure you can get a gaming steering wheel for a lot less money, but it won't come fully equipped with a 6+1 shifter, three working pedals, and an official seal of approval from Porsche. Fanatec spent seven years coming up with a setup that was worthy of the Porsche name, and the end result is pretty damn sweet. The steering wheel is adorned with real leather, it has three feedback motors, a key-shaped 1GB memory stick for storing settings, and both the wheel and pedals are completely free of wires.

There is no question that $349 is probably too much to spend on a gaming wheel, considering a PS3 only costs $399. But if you spend as much time in the virtual world of video games as you do out in the real world, this may be as close as you'll ever get to driving a Porsche, and it costs a lot less than the real thing.Thanks for the tip, Rick!

[Source: Engadget]

Porsche wireless racing wheel from Fanatec originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 May 2008 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Smart, but flawed: Steering wheel navigation screen

Dan Roth — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Gadgets, CES, Technology

The latest gizmo from Japan's Takata will tell you where to go, but not like those verbally abusive digital keychains from the '90s. The Takata CSW steering wheel is designed to interface with sensors in your vehicle and display different messages on an LCD screen in the 12 o'clock position. There are already lights and sirens to let you know if your door is ajar or the washer fluid is low, but the CSW wheel's best trick is that it will talk to the Navigon 7100 navigation system, should you have one. It's an interesting cross-brand lashup that is pushing the envelope of aftermarket integration.

The screen in the wheel works in conjunction with the larger screen in the navigation unit to display instructions, though the improvement over just the Navigon would likely be sufficient. Both the wheel and the Navi can reportedly poll vehicle sensors, though we're not sure exactly how, so the systems would be more aware of what the driver is doing beyond merely position data. Both companies hope the wheel will reduce driver distraction, though we're not convinced that looking down to the wheel rim is any safer or more convenient than the slight gaze diversion to the customary upper center of the dashboard. We don't know of any manufacturer plans to OEM-issue these units, but the effort could portend a future convergence in the gadget galaxy.

[Source: Navigadget via Kicking Tires; Photo: SoundDomain]

Smart, but flawed: Steering wheel navigation screen originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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