News from Seibert's

Now Trending: Car Technology

Cars and the technology that keeps them going has been morphing since the very beginning, but in these days it's especially fascinating to see how vehicles are being built to encompass today's "it" piece of technology: the smartphone. Check out what's to come (or what might already be here) in the world of car tech trends.

I. This summer, General Motors will release their 2013 Chevrolet Sonic and Spark, both of which can include "GoGo Link" - a $50 GPS app for your smartphone that will project navigation systems onto a dashboard touch screen.

II. At the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Ford introduced a Sync AppLink-enabled National Public Radio app that allows NPR fans to listen to shows on demand and create playlists.

III. mbrace2, Mercedes Benz's "most comprehensive Cloud-based telematics system to date," brings together safety, infotainment, vehicle care and personal technology and makes them all accessible by computers and smart phones.

IV. The German automobile maker Audi presented a new modular central vehicle computer at CES, providing easy hardware updates so passengers can stay up-to-date with the latest voice control, media, navigation and telephony technologies. Designs also included wireless portable device charging and a gesture-controlled head-up windshield display with individual screens for the driver and passenger.

Sources: edmunds.com, sci-tech today.com; mbusa.com; worldcarfans.com

Randy Seibert

Seibert's Family of Companies

The Student Driver

It's hard to say who has a more difficult time with the student driving process - the teen doing the learning, or the parent doing the teaching. We've put together the following tips to help parents guide their teen and become the best driver they can be.

Don't Push: Let your teen tell you when he/she is ready to start learning the rules of the road. Pressure will only result in frustration and nerves while driving.

Start Easy: Beginning with the least amount of distractions is ideal for new drivers. Daytime driving, good weather, little to no music, quiet parking lots and back roads will give your teen the opportunity to focus and become familiar with the task at hand.

Be Aware: Remember that your student still hasn't completely mastered their surroundings while driving, so you need to be alert at all times. Not only should you keep an eye on your teen, but you must keep an eye on other drivers, too.

Easy, Coach: Talking down to your teen or getting upset does not create a healthy learning environment. Praise good work and try to formulate criticism in a way that is constructive, not aggressive.

Sources: drivers.com; life.familyeducation.com; about.com