Fortunately for me I don’t have to drive that far to work. I can be there in about 20 to 25 minutes if I drive the speed limit. Now that gas has gone through the roof, I do drive the speed limit. If you ever want to undertake a study in humanity, try driving the speed limit on a four lane road. (This is not recommended on a two lane road as some people forget that there are gun control laws). The best part about it, is watching how hurried people are. Sometimes I’ll get someone who will stay behind me for a while until the peer pressure of cars whizzing by their window pulls them into the fray. I have eliminated this problem by #1 – cruise control and #2 – watching these people as they pass me by. The really frightening thing is that a significant number of them are talking on cell phones and driving with one hand. Don’t see too many of the ‘putting on makeup’ ladies or the incessant smokers anymore, but cell phones sure are prevalent. Occasionally someone responsible (or geekish, you be the judge) goes by with a Bluetooth headset. Do you know that pain you get from wearing one of those headsets for too long, is that a Blueache?

Anyway, so what’s this have to do with technology you might ask? Well, I’m glad you did. Once upon a time back in my younger, road rage days I said I only wanted two things. I wanted a horn that when I honked it, the force of the sound coming out of the front of the vehicle would slow it down 5 mph. And the other was a set of high beams that when I flipped them on, they would blister the paint on the illuminated vehicle. I have now added a third thing to that list. Granted I have pretty much grown out of the road rage scenario, but there is something about teenagers that drives me up the wall. Especially ones who drive right up to my rear bumper while talking on their cell phone and smoking their cigarette. I so wanted that device that some secret government agency has, that you just flip a switch and bingo, no cell phone. In fact, if the offending cell phone would just gasp a small wisp of smoke as the mp3 files, contact numbers and addresses just disappeared within it, it would be all so sweet. But then reality set in and….well….alright I apparently do have more horsepower than his little rice burner, but I didn’t gloat….too much.

It’s plain to see that the race is on to provide a device that can do many wonderful things. Possibly even one that would operate without so much as a glance from us while we’re driving. A device that can be voice operated, encrypted, contain our favorite music and videos plus the all important call lists and contact information. A device so revolutionary that everyone will have to have one and I’m not talking about that marketing hyped, overrated, over priced Iphone either. I’m talking about something truly revolutionary. I’m talking about thinking outside the box or as I like to sometimes say “why am I standing out here by myself”?

A while back Motorola was bandying about the term “seamless mobility”. I decided to stand outside and just think about that a moment. Well it actually occupied me for a couple of days. But I did have some ideas. You would need a device that would be much, much more than a cell phone slash PDA device. You would need something I called I.A.N. - the Integrated Autonomous Navigator. But then again you’ve already read about I.A.N. If you know who the character Beezle of Otherland fame is, then you are welcome to come stand outside with me. However, if you’re not thinking, stamp your feet, it keeps you from getting chilled and annoys the predators.