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You've likely never thought about your car's diagnostic port before. It's the slot---typically hidden below your dashboard---that your mechanic plugs his computer into to figure out why your check engine light keeps coming on.
The Automatic connected car adapter is designed to plug into that port, too, and to stay there. This $100 device, when paired with its smartphone app, allows you to read your car's diagnostic info yourself. The data it exposes can help you identify and potentially fix easy problems on your own.
The Automatic dongle also taps into other data, such as your car's gas level and its location. With this, Automatic can give you insights into your personal driving style and how it might affect, for example, your fuel efficiency. It can even score your driving, which will finally give you the definitive proof you need that you're a better driver than your grandmother, your boss, and that crazy teenager you're always talking about.
There's a crash detection mechanism as well, and the device can call for help (and contact your loved ones) if you're in a serious accident. Its built-in GPS means you will never again forget where you left your car last night... or three minutes ago. And its app can even help you segregate business miles from personal miles for easier expense reporting.
Tapping into your car's brain, however, is just the start. The real power move is integrating your smart car into your smart home. A service called If This Then That (IFTTT) has pre-made recipes that can connect your devices to each other. You can use the service to program your devices to run routines, react to triggers, or pass commands to other connected gadgets in your home. The Internet of Things is a string of connections between pieces of hardware, so set them up to control each other.
You Don't Live In a Barn
That garage door sure is heavy, and that button sure is annoying to push. Use this IFTTT recipe to automatically close your garage door whenever you shut off your car at home.
Minority Report
Your check engine light just came on again. Good thing you're the most stylish guy in town. You can instantly display a diagnostic engine report on your Google Glass when your check engine light alerts you.
Open Sesame
You forgot to turn on the front light before you left, and now it's too dark to find the right key. No worries. Use this IFTTT recipe to automatically unlock your front door whenever you arrive at home. It talks to the SmartThings platform, so it will work with any of the compatible door locks.
Not Again
You forgot to turn on the front light again, and it's still too dark to find the key. No worries. Use another recipe to turn on your Philips Hue lights when you roll up in front of your house.
Regrets, I've Had a Few...
Don't you hate it when you park in front of a brothel and your wife isn't there to tell you not to go in? Never fear! Use this handy recipe to immediately call your spouse when you---that's right---park the car in front of a Nevada brothel.
