Most Important Upcoming Car Technologies

Tuesday, 31 August 2010 17:05

In the early 1980s television series Knight Rider, David Hasselhoff co-starred with a black Pontiac Trans Am named K.I.T.T. (that's the Knight Industries Two Thousand, if you're old enough to remember). The latter could talk, drive by itself and get its human partner out of a jam using its onboard artificial intelligence. At the time, such capabilities seemed like sheer fantasy -- even laughable. Yet today, these once "futuristic" car capabilities (and many more) are reality -- or close to it, anyway.

In this article, we'll explore five of the biggest upcoming technologies to watch for on the automotive scene, and when you might be able to experience them from behind the steering wheel.

In some cases, the technology is already here and ready to use. With others, you shouldn't expect to see them hit the roads until further research has worked out the flaws -- not to mention the high costs. But if past experience has shown us anything, it's that the race to provide cars that are safer, more efficient, faster and just plain cooler will keep pushing the boundaries of technology in what we drive.

Indonesia's Paradise Of Pearls

Friday, 14 May 2010 09:54

Over the years, West Nusa Tenggara has slowly built a reputation as a beach-lover’s paradise. Located to the east of better-known Bali, it is comprised of the main islands of Lombok and Sumbawa and occupies an area of 20,000 kilometers and an estimated population of four million people. The Gili islands, comprised of Trawangan, Air and Meno, are especially popular among backpackers for white, sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters and spectacular coral reefs.

But there’s another reason why the Ministry of Culture and Tourism would like more visitors to come to the islands — the province’s burgeoning pearl industry.

“West Nusa Tenggara produces the world’s best pearls,” said Jero Wacik, minister of culture and tourism, during the second annual Lombok Sumbawa Pearl Festival at the Santosa Resort and Villas at Senggigi Beach. The event, held 30 minutes away from the provincial capital of Mataram last Thursday to Saturday, was part of efforts by the ministry and the provincial government to strengthen the position of West Nusa Tenggara as a must-see destination.