Lots of fun info from Damian Stolarz and Raffi Krikorian -- equipped with a PC, your car could not only play music and help you navigate, but with a couple of sensors and webcams, keep an eye out for dangerous drivers. Pictured, a 1950 Nash Ambassador with a PC display (not OEM) in the dash.

Of course, even here, IP laws intervene. Damian wants to put a DVD screen into the back seat for his kid, and control it from the front. But every time he puts in a DVD, he has to push a whole series of buttons to get it to start. Safety loses out to the DVD-CCA license requirements: each time you want to quiet a crying child, you can't just put a disk in and press play, lest you skip the FBI warning or commercials.

Technorati tag etech05.