DVD inside the car
January 18, 1999, Issue: 1044
Section: News
PCs set to move from desktop to auto dashboard
George Leopold and Terry Costlow
Las Vegas - Given the growing population of computer-savvy commuters, computer makers
are betting demand for car PCs will rise along with traffic volumes. Intel Corp. leads the
growing list of PC and mobile-electronics companies targeting the family car, and developers
are looking closely at the Java programming language for development of key interfaces as the
number of Windows CE-based auto-PC systems grows.
Intel plans to unveil a new processor and chip set for auto PCs next month. So far, company
officials have said only that the chip set will be based on an Intel processor architecture.
An Intel survey predicts a base of 4 million users for auto PCs. Patrick Johnson, director of the
Intel car PC unit, predicted at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) here this month that
availability of a PC option will become "a big factor in the car-buying decision."
Whether the car-PC market predictions of Intel, Microsoft Corp. and others pan out remains
to be seen, analysts said. Still, development interest in the field is so high that
auto-electronics companies filled an entire convention hall at CES.
Companies targeting the market say underlying technologies that still need to be worked out
include standard buses and interfaces, including applications programming interfaces (APIs).
Clearly, Intel's Johnson and others here noted, the standard PC user interface-the
keyboard-will have to be replaced by a voice-activation system if auto PCs are to be
practical. Voice systems are improving, but special microphones are still needed for noisy
environments.
Another possible approach is a dashboard display with a customized graphical user interface,
developers said, though driver distraction is obviously a concern with a graphical system.
Car-navigation systems based on global positioning system satellite receivers and DVD
navigation systems have been the leading PC applications for automobiles. DVD might also
lend itself to back-seat entertainment systems, which would likely appeal to parents hoping
to stave off the inevitable "Are we there yet?"
Video systems, too
Several video-entertainment systems for cars are already on the market, and automakers
themselves are getting into the act via their automotive-electronics units. Ford Motor Co.'s
Visteon Automotive Systems unit (Dearborn, Mich.) introduced a rear-seat entertainment
system for minivans at CES. The system includes a 6.4-inch flip-up LCD screen, a video
player and plug-and-play capability for videogames. Ford dealers are expected to offer the
system beginning in April for about $1,300.
Along with navigation and entertainment, developers are considering using auto PCs to serve
such second-generation applications as emergency services and information man-agement.
Visteon is teaming with Intel and Microsoft to develop a car-PC platform based on the
Windows CE operating system and Intel microprocessors. The platform includes
voice-activated controls, digital audio and a cellular-based emergency rescue unit.
Clarion Corp. of America (Gardena, Calif.) rolled out a CE-based auto PC system in
December. The voice-activated car PC is built around a Hitachi SH3 processor and acts
primarily as a personal digital assistant for commuters. At CES, Clarion announced a 10-inch
active-matrix LCD display for video applications.
Microsoft moved out on several fronts at CES to solidify its position as a key technology
supplier to the car-PC market. The software giant is stressing systems that give drivers
access to information, communications and entertainment. "We finally have products in the
marketplace," said Perry Lee, Microsoft's product manager for auto-PC development.
The company is targeting early adopters of new technologies, such as cell-phone and Palm
Pilot users. Lee acknowledged that the company is "going to have to find the customers with
money" to spend on the auto PCs.
Copyright ® 1999 CMP Media Inc. |
