McNealy champions 'Java browser with tires'
computerworld.com
By LEE COPELAND
(October 16, 2000) DETROIT -- Positioning itself as a top automotive supplier, Sun Microsystems Inc. today pushed for the adoption of not just one, but two in-vehicle network platforms to deliver mobile dashboard services and to monitor engine performance.
Sun Chairman and CEO Scott McNealy delivered the opening keynote at Convergence 2000, an annual automotive electronics conference here. McNealy used the address to drum up support among an audience of 500 automotive suppliers and automakers for turning the car into a "Java browser with tires" and making heavy investments in telematics (in-vehicle communications) systems.
"Being networked can be a double-edged sword," McNealy said. "A lot of people are nervous about letting computer folks near their cars." But, he added, revamping vehicles to accommodate new digital network platforms could pave the way for new subscription-based service revenues for the automakers
McNealy improvised with freehand drawings to sketch out his vision of vehicles with two types of network communications platforms.
One type would offer dashboard-based Internet services for motorists, such as General Motors Corp.'s OnStar communications system and Ford Motor Co.'s Wingcast service. Through that platform, motorists could purchase gas, entertainment and other concierge services from the road.
The other type would be an in-vehicle network platform to manage the vehicle's internal power train, chassis and parts. That second system could notify drivers to service their vehicles and provide information to insurance companies about the last clocked-speed of a vehicle prior to crash.
McNealy championed the use of Sun's hardware to operate these networks and the use of Java 2 Enterprise Edition to create a means for car components to share data on the network.
He also said a "very interesting battle for the driver's registration" online was emerging. Sun plans to make a telematic announcement with Detroit-based GM on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Sun rival Microsoft Corp. yesterday unveiled plans to create a version of its Windows CE operating system for automotive use (see story).
McNealy took jabs at both Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard in his trademark biting humor, disparaging the need for printers in automobiles and joking that using "Control-Alt-Delete" to reboot a vehicle from the dashboard was a bad idea. HP CEO Carly Fiorina, who was in Florida today addressing a Gartner Group symposium (see story) is scheduled to address the conference tomorrow.
Officials at several automakers, such as BMW Motorw AG, Ford, Toyota Motor Corp. and Volkswagen AG said they had initiatives underway to utilize Windows CE and Java application programming interfaces in their respective vehicle lines within the next few years. |
