Home help sat-nav is here

29th May 2008

Ever been plagued by the niggling feeling you’ve forgotten something? Did you switch off the kitchen light? Is the back door locked?

Well, your worries could be over, as new sat-nav lets motorists check from the comfort of their car. The clever gizmo, made by Panasonic, gives drivers wireless access to their homes at the touch of a button.

The Strada F-Class, which is set to be launched in Japan in June, can be used to lock doors, set the DVD timer and even keep an eye on the dog via a live video feed on the in-car kit’s touchscreen monitor.

But the device, which also functions as a conventional sat-nav system and is expected to cost from £1,750 at launch, is likely to spark security rows if it ever hits the shelves in the UK. Smash-and-grab sat-nav thieves in Britain can already access settings stored on drivers’ kits to direct them to their ‘home’ address while they are out.