I often think that companies are taking things too far when it comes to gadgets in cars. I usually come around once I experience them, but there are still many that I’ll happily live without. If the Bluetooth seat becomes a reality, then it’ll quite possibly be one of them.
From Autoblog:
To get your seat fitted perfectly to your body without having to touch any of its controls, you enter your information into the SmartFit app: gender, height, weight, reach and a picture of yourself sitting down. The data will be uploaded to Faurecia’s system, which will work out “your tailored comfort profile,” then send that via Bluetooth to the car’s seat, and the chair will automatically shape-shift to hold you just like you like.
Isn’t that what the memory button is for on an electric seat?
But there’s more….. and the “aaaaah” moment comes when you see the Bluetooth seat equivalent of “Do you want fries with that?”
The app includes adjustments for specialized conditions like back stiffness and leg or thermal discomfort. Going even further, Faurecia imagines you could purchase enhanced seating functions like Shiatsu massage, IsoHeat treatment and “workout relief.”
I have no doubt that some people will buy into this. I don’t see myself as one of them, but each to their own. Personally I’d prefer seat designers to build in some base-level real life comfort. So many car companies settle for a poor job when it comes to seats and getting that right in the first place would satisfy a lot more people.
It wouldn’t have the pizazz of writing Shiatsu Seats in the sales brochure, however.
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