Is climbing into a minivan, especially when you're wearing a short skirt, a bit of a challenge? Does the baby hate long car rides because you can't warm up the bottle? Does the floor of the car constantly seem to be covered with papers and garbage? Life would be so much simpler if only cars were equipped with a retractable step, pivoting seats, bottle-warmer or a central vacuum cleaner...
All of these concepts, as original as they are practical, were actually presented at the 1997 Montreal International Auto Show, as ideas in a contest organized in collaboration with Cite Rock Détente radio station. The contest invited women to send in their ideas for options or accessories which were still not being offered on cars.
"Out of the hundred of suggestions received, we retained 17 and we were able to create 13, either in mock-up or to scale, by the students in the Industrial Design Department of Université de Montreal" explains Diane Belair, Executive Director of the MIAS.
A beacon system to warn other drivers of an emergency situation, a device to measure one's level of inebriation integrated into the key chain, a safety belt preventing the car from starting up, a defrosting system for all the windows (an idea that came out before the ice storm!), and even a heel protector were among the ideas proposed.
"Among the range of new concepts presented, the ones most favored by the public were the central vacuum system and the computerized surveillance system which enables the driver to watch the behavior of the passengers in the rear" states Myriam Derome, Project Director of the Auto Show.
Finally, although the contest was addressed to women, it also caught the attention of many men. One idea proposed by a man, that of installing a secondary sound system, was presented at the Show. This innovative sound system allows the driver and passengers to listen to their choice of music without driving each other crazy.
Manufactures are now offering audio systems based on this very idea, to the joy of parents whose ears will no longer need to be offended by their teens' choice of music!