Parked cars that get dented or scratched will warn their owners and even help them catch the culprit. Engineers at electronics giant Philips suggest burying pressure sensors in the front and rear bumpers, or in decorative trim down the sides of the car (WO 03/012746).
In response to a jolt, the sensors will trigger one of four wide-angle webcam-type cameras hidden in the front, rear and side windows. The camera snaps a quick series of shots, which are stored in memory or sent to the owner as a cellphone photomessage.
