Some model year Toyota Corollas had an automated seat belt. It was really annoying having a belt across the steering column when you had a bag or anything in your hand to put on the passenger seat.

I still type horribly on a smartphone screen rather than the crackberry keyboard. I could drive and type texts/emails without taking my eyes off the road (not recommended). Being able to navigate things by touch is essential.

IIRC there was a brief period of time in the US where manufacturers could omit putting airbags in cars if they used an automatic seat belt instead. So a couple manufacturers did this to keep their costs down, but eventually airbags were required in all cars and the automatic seat belts went away.

A friend of my Dad's had one of those talking cars. It was t-boned by a VW in an accident, knocking him unconscious. When he came to the car was repeating "your left rear door is open..." over and over. He said "I know already, THERE'S A VOLKSWAGEN IN IT!"