2013 Technology of the Year Nominations

AOL Autos enters its second year of the Technology of the Year award, and we are even more geeked about the award this year than we were in 2012. That's because more people know about the award, are anxious to enter, and we have a whole new category from which we are accepting nominations.

In addition to Telematics, Connectivity and Active Safety, we are adding Fuel Economy technology to this year's award campaign. Why Fuel Economy if we are making the award at the Consumer Electronics Show? We all know that the advances automakers and suppliers are making in this area are heavily dependent on electronic innovation, and we want to reward those innovators with recognition.

Our Grand Prize winner in 2012 was Chrysler Group's Uconnect™ in the Connectivity category, but I can tell you that an Active Safety entrant was close behind. I can also tell you that our system of letting the consumer vote count as one judge in our tally turned out to be the deciding vote.

Our panel of judges will be testing vehicles and technologies throughout the year. The deadline for nominations is September 1st, 2013. The technology must be available to purchase by a consumer in, or for, a car by September 30th, 2013. And to be a qualified nomination, the technology must be deemed new or adequately upgraded from the year before. The technology is eligible if it was on sale between September 30, 2012 and September 30, 2013.

Anyone can nominate a technology--the automaker, a supplier, a member of the public or one of the Tech of the Year judges. Nominations commence March 1, 2013.

Finalists will be honored at an event at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, with the Grand Prize handed out at CES 2014.

Good luck.

- David Kiley

Editor-in-Chief, AOL Autos

Categories for technology nominations

Active Safety Active safety systems encompass technolgies such as lane minding and collision avoidance systems, active cruise control, etc. New airbag systems would not qualify. The technology submitted for this category should rely on some involvement and engagement by the driver.

Fuel Economy Fuel economy technology should be a system or single add-on feature that increases the vehicle's fuel economy. In the case of an all new electric vehicle or plug-in electric, for example, an entire drive-train could be eligible.

Connectivity Connectivity will largely include app-based technology, but could include a system depending on how the system works and what it delivers. We are looking for tech that achieves excellence in connecting the car to the driver and outside world.

Telematics Telematics systems are platforms in new vehicles that handle most of the connectivity with media, smartphones and outside world.

Note: Judges will decide what category nominees fall into, so do not let uncertainty over category deter you from nominating a new or upgraded technology.