e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

[Tinroad]

Cksla, re Delphi...

"Eyes on the road-hands on the wheel- mind on the driving- Delphi's Mobile Productivity Center (MPCpro) makes your Palm come to life with voice activated commands to access Palm functions such as request phone numbers and auto dial via an Ericsson phone or reads scheduled appointments, memos and other stored information while driving in your vehicle."

http://199.44.76.172/booth/standard.cfm?key=Del939

Delphi Automotive Systems 'One-Step, One-Touch' MPCpro Designed To Keep Drivers Linked And Focused


For Release: March 6, 2001

Detroit - Designed to link busy commuters to personal and business information while focusing on the road ahead, the Delphi Automotive Systems Communiport® MPCpro (Mobile Productivity Center) is being showcased at the Society of Automotive Engineers 2001 World Congress. Delphi's portable communication device was presented as part of the SAE Strategic Alliance demonstration on technologies that help driver's maintain their focus on driving.

The MPCpro docks a cell phone with a Palm V or Vx personal hand-held computer. The Palm unit and the telephone sit side-by-side in a specially designed cradle. The device helps active people save time and increase productivity by allowing them to use the cell phone and to access information from the Palm handheld computer in their vehicles, all by voice.

"Our design team successfully minimized the steps and simplified the operation of the MPC," said Bob Schumacher, Delphi business line director for Wireless Products and general director of Mobile MultiMedia. "We developed a one-touch, one-step approach that is intuitive to learn. This unique interface allows the driver to access the information by simply asking for it through a verbal request or command."

The unit uses voice activation to request information and reads information by text-to-speech through a low-power FM transmitter that plays back through an available FM channel on the vehicle's audio system.

After activating the unit by pressing one button, all other functions of the MPCpro are designed to be performed hands-free, allowing drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. The unit features one large activation button and once the "one-touch" button is activated a computer voice tells the user that the unit is "ready."

The user can then ask the MPCpro unit for the information from the Palm handheld computer's "to do" list or retrieve telephone numbers from the Palm's address book and dial them automatically by voice command. The date book, memo pad and other Palm functions are also operated by voice.

For example, the user can give the MPCpro a command for the address book and the machine responds to confirm the command. The user then says, "John Doe." The MPCpro confirms the name by asking the question, "did you say John Doe?" The user replies "yes," and the unit automatically dials John Doe's telephone number from the address book. The user then talks hands-free to the person on the receiving end of the call.

When using the MPC, the display on the Palm unit is designed to be off and inactive so that the operator cannot attempt to read any information on the display while driving. The MPC activates in the vehicle through voice only.

The Communiport MPCpro is powered by a 12-volt accessory outlet and is designed to minimize power consumption when left in the vehicle. The unit can be installed in any of three installation areas. Depending on the vehicle configuration and owner preference, the MPCpro can be installed by a dashboard mount, windshield mount or cupholder. The unit is also equipped with charging circuits to maintain the rechargeable battery in the telephone.

The MPCpro went on sale earlier this year for a retail price of $499. The Palm hand-held computer and cell phone are sold separately. It is initially being sold over the Internet at www.delphiauto.com/communiport.

For more information, please contact:

Milton Beach, [1] 765.451.0655, - or - John Shea, [1] 248.813.2528

http://www.delphiauto.com/index.cfm?location=2579

Other Delphi stuff:
http://www.delphiauto.ro/index.cfm?location=381