In the future, drivers will be able to program their travel routes by touching the screens of mini-computers installed in their cars before starting their trips.

They will use voice-activated telephones to &uot;dial&uot; numbers without taking their hands off the wheel.

And a feature called &uot;night vision&uot; will allow them to see obstacles in the road such as deer, ever-present on Miss-Lou back roads, in time to safety stop or avoid them altogether.

The future is now.

Yes, such features are already available on vehicles and are finally catching on with local residents, according to area automotive dealers.

On popular feature is the global positioning system, or GPS, which is perhaps better known by trade names such as Onstar.

Perhaps the best-known feature of such a GPS system is that a driver can enter his current location and destination into an on-board computer by touching selections on the screen. The system will then map a travel route and give the driver voice prompts throughout the trip, telling him where to turn left or right.

&uot;It even tells you where the next place is to make a U-turn if you’ve passed your exit,&uot; said Eddie Thompson, general manager of Jordan Auto in Natchez.

If a driver needs further assistance, cellular technology makes it possible for him to call a customer service representative with the touch of a button.

Concierge service can be requested, show tickets can purchased and restaurant or hotel reservations can be made at ones destination using such systems, Thompson said.

Using personal identification numbers, a person can even call the service to remotely unlock his vehicles doors using satellite technology if he has left the keys inside.

GPS systems can also be used in emergencies.

For example, when one customer had an accident in her vehicle, the car’s GPS system called 911 with her location as soon as the airbags deployed, said Ed Harvey, general sales manager at Natchez Ford Lincoln Mercury.

&uot;If you’re in an emergency, they can find right where you are,&uot; Harvey said. More recently, Natchez police tracked a stolen vehicle using such a system.

But GPS systems are not the only high-tech feature that can be ordered for cars today. Thompson said &uot;night vision&uot; a special screen on your windshield that allows you to see obstacles in the road even without the aid of lights is also available.

&uot;That can be a lifesaver,&uot; Thompson said.

Another option that has become increasingly popular is a voice-activated cellular telephone. The telephone can be programmed to recognize commands from two different voices and can also be programming to recognize up to 20 numbers using voice commands for example, &uot;Call the office&uot; or &uot;Call home.&uot;

&uot;That’s probably on 35 to 40 percent of the Lincolns we sell now,&uot; Harvey said. &uot;There’s a cradle for it in the car, but you can take it out and use is as your personal phone, too.&uot;

Still in the future are other features that could change the way people open their cars, as well as the way they spend their time while they are in those cars. A case in point is a feature that is still a few years away door handles that recognize the owners fingerprints to open the door without using a key, Thompson said.

According to press releases from German automotive supplier Visteon, other options of the future could include:

— Voice control of everything from audio to climate controls.

— Cameras in the back seat and a face-front screen for the driver which could allow Mom to more easily and safely keep an eye on children in the back seat.

— Rear-seat entertainment a system with a videotape player, a stereo system with headphones and, yes, video games.

— Airbag and restraint systems that can automatically adjust for maximum safety depending on the speed of impact and whether the occupant is a driver, passenger or child.

And there will also be features for workaholics, including technology that will allow a driver to check his e-mail and schedule, make calls and even check the stock market using voice commands.