telematics
-
Jim Morrisson sang what may have been the best driving advice in rock and roll history in the quintessential "Roadhouse Blues": Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel. While that advice may have been aimed at keeping a half-potted rocker between the lines, it's equally apposite in daily life. Ford today revealed a study backing up that assertion with evidence that voice-command systems reduce driver distraction. Things as simple as having the car's computer read an incoming text-message rather than the driver reading it can have a huge impact, according to the study. The...
-
GM in talks to offer OnStar to other carmakersTelematics services are expanding even as the global car market contracts, with Toyota/Lexus the latest to join the arena with its recently-announced Enform system. Now General Motors' OnStar system is looking to expand by partering with other carmakers, according to the latest reports. Talks...
Ralph Hanson -
Nissan developing system to prevent wrong-way driving
The incidence of drivers going the wrong way up expressway ramps in Japan is apparently high enough to merit a specific effort to combat its occurrence. Nissan is working on a system that combines GPS location, a map database and an advanced telematic computer system to warn drivers if they attempt...
Kenneth Hall -
Ford to launch SYNC in Europe by 2010, Asia Pacific and Australia to follow
Late yesterday Ford revealed its latest-generation SYNC in-car connectivity system, which for 2009 is updated with a new personalized Traffic, Directions and Information system. The new services will be available on nearly all 2010 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models, however, their availability will...
James Martinez -
Updated Ford SYNC provides personalized traffic, directory and news services
Ford is enhancing the connectivity capabilities of its vehicles by introducing exclusive new SYNC real-time information features that deliver personalized news updates to drivers’ mobile phones while also helping them navigate around trouble spots in the hope to save time and fuel. SYNC is an...
James Martinez -
Toyota and Lexus announce plans for new telematics system
Toyota has announced that it will launch a new telematics systems later this year for select Toyota and Lexus models, similar to the current service offered by General Motors’ OnStar system. Named ‘Safety Connect’ for Toyota, and Lexus Enform for the carmaker’s luxury...
Ralph Hanson -
Hyundai will soon be joining the likes of Ford and Fiat by offering a new music and information interface developed jointly with software giant Microsoft. To enable that collaboration, the two companies have announced the founding of a dedicated Automotive IT Innovation Centre (AIIC) with the aid of Korea’s Institute for IT Advancement. Located within Hyundai-Kia's research facilities in Seoul, the AIIC's goal will be to develop new technology such as auto telecommunication, telematics, navigation systems and Location Based Service (LBS), and improving Human Machine Interface (HMI) -...
