Cutting-Edge Minivan Technology Lets Parent Yell at Kids Extra Loudly

07-22-2014 • slate.com

There is, says the press release, an optional Dual-View, Blu-Ray rear seat entertainment system to make the car "a kid-favorite destination." There is a "pull-down conversation mirror" that allows parents to check on passengers in the back without contorting themselves awkwardly. Oh, and there is Driver Easy Speak, which uses a microphone to amplify the driver's voice through the rear speakers, so that he or she can better scream at the kids. Call it a creative, frictionless yelling experience.

Driver Easy Yell, as this innovation should be called, is necessary because "today's parents are embracing their life stage and those relatable family moments that make us laugh and feel connected," said Toyota Division marketing vice president Jack Hollis.