Rinspeed BamBoo - the car that reads your social status updates

Social status in the 21st century is increasingly measured by the amount of interaction we engage in on social media websites. Various sites, plus any number of blogs and forums and an inevitable avalanche of e-mails are now our constant companions since the advent of mobile networking (thanks to tablets and smart phones) and being cut off from updates on these can often cause something tantamount to panic. For drivers, however, talking on cell phones, texting and surfing the net are hazardous activities, as confirmed by the ever harsher penalties dished out by the law to those who do so.

However, the answer to this dilemma may have arrived in the shape of the Rinspeed BamBoo (from the Swiss Company founded by Frank Rinderknecht) which was unveiled at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The Rinspeed BamBoo can keep you connected while driving, without tearing your attention away from the road to fiddle with touch screens and buttons or attempt to read messages. This concept car, made using Harman technology, has a plug-in charger that takes smart-phones or other devices, connecting you to the Web instantly and relaying back any messages in voice format. Passengers can also benefit from this technology as the car has built-in Wi-Fi.

The 4-seater Bamboo is an electrically powered car, designed by New York pop artist Frank Rizzi, and its hi-tech connectivity makes for an interesting blend, with its distinctly retro 70s St. Tropez styling. As the manufacturers themselves have described it, the car has the look of a "grown-up golf cart", intended for summer fun (although it does have a heater for chillier climes), the inflatable canopy top doubles as a beach lilo and there is even room in the back for a bike, further enhancing the car's green credentials. The car takes its name from the fact that the interior, complete with inflatable rear seats, is finished in bamboo fibre.

Where traditional cars once had a dashboard, the BamBoo has what looks like an elongated breadbin, housing all that internet gadgetry and, instead of the now redundant radiator grill, there is the "Identiface", a screen that displays messages if you are near but not actually in the car. The hands-off communications technology means that you can surf the internet using simple voice commands and the in-car entertainment includes the Aha Radio application, also driven by voice commands.

As you drive along free of distractions, the Rinspeed Bamboo can act as your social secretary, while your eyes are firmly fixed on the road. However, it's important not to get too carried away with all of these distractions, or you'll find that you might need windscreen repairs at best, or you could be facing a court appearance at the very worst. Stay safe and keep your eyes on the road.

Isla Campbell writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.