Dual-mode vehicular controller

A vehicular computer interface system, comprising:

• a dual-mode controller disposed in a vehicular fixture, the controller including a processor, a main memory and a display;
• and
• a plurality of vehicular peripheral devices coupled to and in bi-directional communication with the dual-mode controller, said peripheral devices including engine control subsystems, media controllers, navigation systems, sensors and transducers;
• wherein the dual-mode controller is operative to switch between a master mode and slave mode responsive to the occurrence of both i) the detection of a user's personal handheld computing device, and ii) receipt of a command from a user to enter the slave mode,
• wherein, when in the master mode, the dual-mode controller serves as the user's exclusive interface with the vehicular peripheral devices, and
• wherein, when in the slave mode, the dual-mode controller allows the user's personal handheld computing device to be a master controller for one or more of the plurality of vehicular peripheral devices and to serve as the user's exclusive interface with the one or more of the plurality of vehicular peripheral devices, whereby the user's control of certain of the plurality of vehicular peripheral devices is enhanced by the user's familiarity with an operating system of the user's personal handheld computing device.