TrendWatcher

Recently, USA Today reported on a new invention available in San Francisco that combines three existing products in a clever way. Nathan Withrington combined the concept of a self-guilded tour (using an audio tape or CD you can start and stop), little miniature golf-cart-like electric cars, and a global positioning system. So as you tool one of these little GoCars around town, the GPS detects where you are and dashboard software plays tourist information.

The system keeps tabs on where the car is to within 17 feet and adjusts its talk accordingly. It even gives suggestions on where and when to turn to see more sights. "This is such a great idea," says Ireton, who is vacationing with her husband and two daughters. They rented two of the cars, which have a top speed of 30 mph, to get an overview of the city. "It tells you a lot of interesting stuff, and they're easy to drive. It was fun."

The inventor, a 31-year old former technical recruiter who loves to tinker with motorcycles, is amazed by his own success. He originally ordered eight cars and programmed the software to cover only the most heavily tourist-trafficked areas of the city. Now he's turning customers away. "People say they'll keep the cars out for two hours, and then they're gone all day."