Finding the right Father's Day gift isn't easy considering dads either have everything they want or swear they "don't need anything from anybody this year" - and that's an exact quote.
The truth is, there are plenty of gadgets that the old man doesn't know about, as he clutches onto that AOL email address and stock of VHS tapes.
He needs this tech, but he never knew it. Make his life easier this Father's Day with gadgets that bring him into the 21st century, fresh from the 1980s as if this were Back to the Future Part II.
An 'Automatic' gift decision for chauffeuring dads
Transform your dad's ride from Fred Flintstone's foot-pedaled car to George Jetson's flying car with the $99 Automatic Smart Driving Assistant.
Okay, the change won't be that drastic, but Automatic does bring the Internet of Things to the family car via a tiny gadget that fits right into the OBD-II data port.
It beams gas-saving driving feedback to iOS and Android smartphones and can diagnose and clear the check engine light in a jiffy. Dad can always pretend he knew how to fix the problem.
Crash alerts on iOS can notify the authorities and loved ones of your location, while Do Not Disturb on the newly launched Android app can silence your phone while you're driving.
Automatic's provides a safer, more informative drive, and he'll never forget where he left the car thanks to this trip logging device's parking reminder complete with a map.
Dropcam Pro to ensure you stay out of dad's stuff
Dad is older than you and has accrued a lot of so-called "valuable" belongings in his lifetime, and he doesn't want people messing with his prized possessions.
That's where Dropcam Pro comes into focus. This WiFi video monitoring camera doesn't need to be attached to a PC, as it streams its high-quality security footage through your home router.
Its free live streaming capabilities make it possible to tune into your safe-and-sound home from computers, tablets and smartphones, while motion detection send emails and push notifications.
With a subscription, Dropcam backs up this security footage to the cloud so you don't have to watch in real-time and it'll soon expand its product line with motion-sensing Dropcam Tabs.
Google is rumored to be interested Dropcam after having buying up Nest, which tells you a lot about its up-and-coming status in your emerging smart home, whether or not it's true.
Less of dad with the Withings WS-50 Smart Body Analyzer
Dads are always trying to lose weight, and one of the best ways to help him stick to a diet is by setting up the Withings WS-50 Smart Body Analyzer in the bathroom.
This WiFi scale scale replaces that old rusty junk sitting on your bathroom floor with a clean, polished and, most importantly, ultra-precise weight and body fat measurer.
The health-focused Withings has an iOS and Android app to go along with its updated scale, and it picks up your heart rate and keeps tabs on indoor air quality.
We're not sure how well that works in a bathroom on certain Taco-filled Tuesdays, but it's a nice touch every other day of the week.
Sony RX100 II to capture all of dad's memories
One of the best compact cameras keeps getting better. The forthcoming Sony RX100 III isn't out until the end of the month, but the two previous models are priced better for a Father's Day gift.
The Sony RX100 II and Sony RX100 Cybershot cameras offer near-DSLR-quality 20 megapixel photos, but do so in a compact body.
It's pocketable in tight jeans with a little squeeze and the price is a low $548. Even if that blows your budget for dad this year, hopefully you'll have some siblings and mom chip in for this great camera.
Chromecast turns dads dumb TV into a smart one
If you missed out on gifting Chromecast to your folks over Christmas, then Father's Day is the perfect time to deliver app streaming to dad's favorite "Do Not Touch" display, his TV.
At $35, it's the cheapest way to beam Netflix, HBO Go, YouTube, Hulu Plus and Pandora to any HDTV. It also finally has sports channels thanks to the additions of ESPN and MLB.TV.
It's missing key apps like Amazon Instant Video, which the more expensive Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku 3 and Roku Streaming Stick offer, but Google likely to announce more apps at Google IO.
Upgrade dad to iPhone 5S or a new Android
Chances are your dad is eligible for a new phone and doesn't even know it. He may not care at first and refuse to upgrade, but he'll likely love the bigger screens out there in the end.
To that point, the iPhone 5S has an elongated 4-inch display that's a major upgrade if your dad is still carrying around the iPhone 4S with its 3.5-inch screen.
If Pops is an Android user, there's no shortage of bigger and better Google-powered phones to upgrade to, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8 chief among them.
The LG G3 won't make it out in time for Father's Day unless you live in South Korea, but if dad is a back-buttons kind of guy, you can always set him up with a pre-order.
Best of all, if your dad protected his phone in an Otter case and it's still in pretty good condition, you can always help him sell it on eBay or Amazon, essentially making the upgrade free.
After all, dads always like saving money, and proving that he's passed on those pearls of wisdom may be the best Father's Day gift of all.
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