Will your iPhone be remotely controlled from your car's steering wheel?

A new patent has surfaced that may fix a problem that drivers have while operating their iPhone. Many state laws prohibit using a cell phone while driving. You can talk or text on them. Taking your hands off the wheel while driving is dangerous, as one half second can literally mean the difference between life and death. Now a remote control that mounts to the steering wheel is going to be able to control the iPhone and maybe other Apple products as well.

The new steering wheel remote control patent surfaced today on the "US Patent and Trademark Office" web site along with 20 other patents. The one that pertains to the mobile realm is one of the more interesting ones. The patent was never seen before and was begun rather recently. It was filed in the first part of last year. It may fix a problem that millions of American drivers have with the Law and driving safely. The remote itself is mounted on the steering wheel, close to where it can be operated by the driver. It is touch sensitive and has a rotund shape. The patent is specifically for the remote control and its use with mobile devices such as an iPhone.

The new device will compete with other solutions, such as voice control. In those circumstances where the stereo is blasting, voice control takes two steps to complete. The user has to turn down the volume manually and then give the command. Having this Apple remote control will only take one step and less concentration is taken away from the act of driving a car. Things like choosing music tracks, viewing photos and the like will be just a touch away with the likes of this upcoming device. The remote will come with a rotatable faceplate, making it usable no matter what position it has in relation to the eyes of the driver. The clamp can adjust to varying thicknesses of steering wheels making it universal.

This new invention was not filed during the days of the iPod, so it is assumed to be targeted for use with the iPhone. There are no release dates and no prices yet to be seen for the steering wheel remote control.