6. Automatic Smart Driving Assistant ($100)
For dads who regularly commute, the Automatic Smart Driving Assistant could be the gift that keeps on giving, at the gas pump at least. This tiny device hooks up to a car’s diagnostic port (OBD-II) and transmits useful data to the accompanying smartphone app. Its primary purpose is to help increase mileage by alerting the driver to gas-hogging events like fast starts and speeding, but it also includes convenient features like trip tracking and engine maintenance updates.
Even better is a new feature, currently in beta testing, called “Crash Alert,” which detects if a vehicle has been in a crash and automatically reports the incident to local authorities via the driver’s smartphone. New support for If This Then That (IFTTT) also makes Automatic useful outside of the car, by allowing users to setup scripts that can email your mechanic when the ‘check engine’ light comes on, turn on the house lights when pulling into the driveway, or send out tweets when you visit popular locations like Disney World.
