Pioneer adds gizmo to rearview mirror

The range of car accessories that you can add to your car just took a giant leap forward with the announcement from Pioneer that it has developed a new one that will make you the envy of the neighbourhood; it is the new Rearview Telematics Unit and now in English, a wireless information module that fits over your car’s rearview mirror. 

Really?

The unit, that was developed with help from Japanese mobile telephone company, Docomo, promises (according to the website) continuous connection to the network via LTE line which features high speeds, large capacity and low latency. Information is displayed on a 5” LCD touchscreen, but a noise-cancelling feature allows the driver to use voice-activated Drive Agent Service incorporated into the unit for obtaining a variety of real-time information needed for driving, such as information on facilities, traffic information, weather information and news, and for using the navigation functions.

The unit also comes with a built-in front-view camera with wide-angle lens, which allows the unit to function as a driving recorder. The camera also enables the unit to provide Safe Driving Support Service by detecting, through unique image-sensing technology, crossing lane or when the vehicle ahead starts moving, and by detecting unsafe driving with a built-in sensor. There is also an option to link the unit via bluetooth to a reversing camera and it can also function as a Wi-Fi hotspot allowing the use of Wi-Fi compatible terminals in the vehicle, such as tablets and games consoles. And if that’s not enough, you can also use it as a good old boring rearview mirror.