Smart cars at CES

One of the big transformations at the Consumer Electronics Show was the heightened presence of car companies such as Ford, Audi, and Mercedes.  And they weren’t here to just showcase the latest in-vehicle entertainment systems.  Rather, as consumers become more acquainted with (and reliant upon) their mobile devices and social media connections, they’re more likely to take those technologies beyond their homes and offices.  Enter…the car.  This short video showcases Mercedes concept-only (for now) gesture system (designed in their Silicon Valley lab — imagine connecting to one of your Facebook friends who just happens to driving on the same road ahead of you), as well as Ford’s focus on in-car health and wellness (monitoring and alert systems).  And Audi has just announced 4G LTE in-vehicle mobile broadband.