From the cup holder to the DVD player, it’s been a long and winding road for the automobile. It’s difficult to believe that there was a time when automobiles served a strictly pragmatic service: taking the driver and any passengers from point A to point B. No gadgets. No flash. No pizazz. Nowadays we have the luxury of sitting in a heated leather seat while watching our favorite movie and listening to an automated voice direct us to our destination. Yes, we’ve come a long way, baby and now, here are the most interesting and useful of innovations that the automobile has seen since its invention.

The Cup Holder

There was once a time when the convenience of enjoying a refreshing beverage while behind the wheel was hindered by not only a lack of place to put said beverage but also by a lack of ability to drink said beverage without spilling it all over yourself. Yes, the early and very primitive form of the automobile contained such poor shock suspension that all one could do while driving was hold on for dear life. The emergence of the drive-in movie theater and fast food restaurants brought cup holders into play well after the emergence of quality shock suspension so now you can drink comfortably and have a safe place to put your drink of choice.

The Car Stereo

It might be difficult but try to conjure up an image in your mind of a time when your only audible options while driving were the chugging of the engine or the chatter of your wife and kids. Sounds pretty bleak, eh? Many of us would’ve offed ourselves by now if we didn’t have the ability to turn up the volume on our car stereo to drown out one or both of those annoyances. The car stereo has evolved from simple radio stations, to cassette decks, to CD players, and now to satellite radio and MP3 players.

The DVD player

Along the same lines as the car stereo, the DVD player is another form of escape under the guise of entertainment. Evolving from the VHS player in your family’s old conversion van, mini DVD screens can be placed all over cars of all types these days. They’re on the back of the front seats for the kid’s entertainment and some are even placed on the steering wheel for the driver’s entertainment. Nevermind how extremely dangerous it is to watch a movie while driving, America is all about overindulgence and this is just one of many examples.

The Navigation System

You will never have to worry about stopping at a gas station for directions ever again with the modern day navigation system. Hell, even MapQuest directions have become obsolete with the emergence of this technological phenomenon. Satellites pinpoint your location and the most pleasant sounding British fembot calmly leads you to any destination you have in mind. Just forget for a second that satellites can pinpoint where anyone is at all times and enjoy the convenience of getting where you need to be.

Key Fobs

Besides being fun to say, key fobs have made a nuisance out of the simple task of inserting a key into the lock and turning. The 1993 Chevrolet Corvette was the first known automobile to employ key-less entry and the trend has evolved to the point where you can now literally start your car and let it warm up in the wintertime by simply pushing a button from the comfy confines of your breakfast nook.

By K. Fitty Ditty

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