Car keys have always posed a challenge. Half the times you lose them inside your purse, or they are not in the key holders. Other times, they are jammed in the ignition or worse, the transponder fails and locks you out of your own car. Looks like, a lot of car manufacturers and engineers have been facing the same problem over the last few years. Car keys are evolving beyond repair and replacement. Finally, we get a glimpse of what the distant future of car keys might look like.
Will the new generation car keys pose a more significant threat?
The BMW-7 series has released a new model of car keys that come with a full touchscreen. It looks like a miniature model of the car, and it has all the controls you need to “summon” your vehicle remotely. Now, this does solve a few issues like jammed keys and rusted keys that can break with the slightest pressure. However, it poses greater challenges.
- Losing the new model of car keys is going to make a visible dent in your wallet.
- The tablet will require reprogramming from the manufacturer, and it can take quite a while before you can ride again.
- If the program is hacked, you will need a professional programmer with an idea about programming digital car keys like these to fix it.
- Chances are you will need to charge the batteries of the keys. Once you are out of charge, you will be out of luck.
Are you ready for the change?
Wireless technologies will surely bring a lot of good changes to the car key repair and replacement scenario, but the question is – is the world ready for them yet?
Gentex recently came up with an idea of embedded eye recognition system in the rearview mirrors of the car. It will automatically unlock the car doors once it completes a retina scan. Aside from the threats that come with retinal scans or iris scans, there is a raging doubt about the security of the process. A simple database leak can make the owner’s personal details vulnerable in a time where biometrics will open all the locks. In general, the process is known to be uncomfortable and irritating to the eyes.
The most common challenge is highlighted by the lack of acceptance of retina scanners in smartphones. Samsung Galaxy Note 7 comes with a retina scanner, but people like to stick to older modes of security. The reason is a simple one – the idea of retinal scan to access something you use daily is just too cumbersome. No one wants to get their retina or iris scanned when he or she can just obtain his or her device through the push of a button.
Most contemporary car manufacturers also think this to be true. Most car users are always in a hurry to get somewhere. While iris scans can have a high fidelity, they are also tedious and need patience. Modern day car keys have transponder chips and fobs which can give owners the access to their cars within one second.
Why are current car key designs much better?
Yes, missing car keys and broken car keys can be a hassle, but only if you do not have the correct locksmith to help you replace the keys. It does not matter if you are driving a Honda, BMW or a Ferrari, for missing keys, you need to get in touch with an experienced locksmith. Here’s when you should surely call a locksmith instead of trying to fix the situation yourself:
- You have somehow broken your car keys.
- Your transponder is not responding, but you do not know why.
- You cannot open your car lock or start the engine no matter how hard you try.
- You have wedged the key in the ignition, and it will not come out.
- You have lost your car keys, and you need a fresh copy complete with the transponder chip.
We know these can be trying circumstances, but there are hardly alternative ways to get out these sticky situations. Most of the times, we end up misplacing our keys when we are in a hurry. A good locksmith always insists on making at least two copies of your car keys, so if one stops working, you can always use the other one.
Calling your dealer or manufacturer are always viable options. However, these are costly options, unless your insurance covers car key loss, repair, and replacement. Very few car insurances actually cover such clauses, but car keys can cost you a lot more than an extended insurance coverage. It is smarter to have the number of a reliable locksmith on your speed dial and car key insurance coverage.
