Luis Cilimingras (left) is head of digital strategy for Fiat. He has overseen the Italian motor manufacturer's launch of ecodrive, a USB plug-in application that enables drivers to analyse their driving techniques for fuel efficiency.
A USB stick records data from the engine that can then be uploaded onto computer for the software program to analyse. The data can tell you if you're over-revving, for example, or which type of journey is most fuel inefficient.
It is yet another example of how the digital and the physical worlds are merging. The new Toyota Prius incorporates a similar 'driving efficiency' disply projected onto the windscreen.
But what struck me when I was interviewing Luis for New Media Age was the use all this collected customer data could be put to - informing future car designs, for example, or even changing the way city planners design roads.
Digital data is a design tool - if only we learn how to use it properly and willingly offer it up.
Having spent several years on holidays driving my own car in France I only realized this year that one needs to carry the original - not photocopy - of the car's logbook. Duh! Did I feel stupid when the nice Feu Vert man told me about it when I had to buy new tyres. Luckily I've never been stopped, but it could be a fine on the spot.
Posted by: Motoring Guides | March 04, 2010 at 02:54 AM