Key Fob Evolving, But Not Going Away - Privacy, durability and prestige all big pluses for familiar device

摘要

LIKE SO MANY COMPONENTS, THE Traditional car key has transformed from a simple tool to a sophisticated electronic device in the past 20 years. Thanks to growing popularity of electronic key fobs, passive keyless entry systems and push-button ignitions, traditional mechanical keys appear obsolete. What will become of the quaint little appliance we still refer to as a car key? Does it dissolve into a few bits of computer code that can be downloaded into a smart phone, or does it become a multifunctional iPod-like device that links us closer than ever to our beloved metal steed, revealing its intimate needs on a tiny liquid crystal display?