AI
Sunday, February 17, 2002 8:18:37 PM
Recently, e.Digital made public for the first time a design win in the telematics market.
January 7, 2002- e.Digital Corporation and Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten announced today that the companies have collaborated for several months to develop and deliver state-of-the-art automotive OEM and aftermarket infotainment systems integrating the latest digital audio, voice recognition, data storage, video, and wireless Internet technologies for sale under the Eclipse brand name. This includes integration of onboard cellular phone, GPS, video, and audio into a single voice-controlled automotive system. Technology development will include navigation and control as well as wireless access and integration with home networks."
As many of you know, I have been looking into e.digital's possible involvement in the telematics market for almost two years. I confess and acknowledge that I was surprised by the announcement with Fujitsu Ten. Something you should keep in mind when reading the remainder of this. So is that it, did I miss the boat in my previous ruminations on this topic. I think not but only time will tell--but we are not too far off now.
So if anyone is interested, I have decided to put on my "longtooth" and update some prior ramblings on the topic-- may be even in time for the 2/19/02 edig CC. Recent communications from e.digital's management would suggest in fact that its telematics agenda is becoming one of its important markets.
January 16, 2002
Automotive Business
We were pleased to announce last week an automotive product developed and designed through our collaboration with Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten. The Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten automotive product (MP-3 Changer) introduced at CES represents the first automotive system incorporating e.Digital's MicroOS and VoiceNav(TM) technologies. In addition to the design shown at the Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten booth, e.Digital demonstrated an advanced prototype of the product utilizing a beta version of its MicroOS 3.0 which enables music files to be remotely transferred from a PC to the player via 802.11 wireless protocol.
The Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten product is the first of several major opportunities for our technology to be included in next-generation automotive infotainment systems. Infotainment systems are part of the automotive telematics market, which is expected to be worth over $1.1 billion in 2002, and projected to grow 16-fold by 2006. (Telematics Research Group). There is significant interest among several automotive electronics manufacturers and suppliers in e.Digital's digital data management and wireless infotainment solutions. Automotive infotainment and telematics applications are expected to generate substantial licensing, NRE fees, and royalties for your Company. Each OEM agreement may also include revenue for manufacturing services, warranty services, marketing, customer service, order fulfillment, and technical support services.
February 11, 2002
Automotive Business
The burgeoning automotive telematics market is a strategic target for our immediate and long-term business expansion. e.Digital technology, including our MicroOSTM file management system and our VoiceNavTM user-independent speech recognition interface, enables automotive OEMs and ODMs to incorporate additional features and successfully meet safety objectives in automotive telematics and infotainment solutions.
Automotive telematics is the wireless exchange or delivery of communication, information, and other content between the auto and/or occupants and external sources....Based on over two years of internal development, and growing interest in our VoiceNav and MicroOS technologies, we are making automotive telematics solutions a primary focus of our OEM and ODM technology development and marketing efforts.
Based on the work we have done and continue to do, we are expanding our business in this area and taking advantage of significant near-term and long-term revenue opportunities available to us. The revenue opportunities from the automotive telematics applications of our products and technologies is potentially far greater than even those from portable consumer devices, both in royalties and margins.
As e.digital has acknowledged, this is not an area of business that it just dreamed up and started a few months back with Fujitsu. I would suggest e.digital's beginnings in this area were an outgrowth of the VoiceTimes' alliance and its previous dealings with Intel and IBM which no doubt led to it being included as an inaugural member of VoiceTimes.
VoiceTimes alliance
April 13, 1999 – e.Digital Corporation along with IBM, Intel and other leaders in speech recognition and mobile technologies today announced at the DemoMobile 99 conference the formation of the Voice Technology Initiative for Mobile Enterprise Solutions (VoiceTIMES)....With the explosive growth of mobile devices and the increasing demand for network access, the VoiceTIMES initiative was formed to define specifications for how voice commands and information are transmitted and received by existing and future mobile devices.
''We believe VoiceTIMES will allow e.Digital to expand development of speech-based mobile information gathering devices and leverage our product designs in to many additional industry solutions.'' (Falk} ''In today's world of pervasive computing, users want simple, fast and hassle free mobile computing devices to connect and communicate.'' said W.S. ''Ozzie'' Osborne, general manager of IBM Speech Systems. ''Through joint collaboration, the VoiceTIMES alliance aims to eliminate complexities for the consumer and solutions integrator, while providing future generations of standard compliant speech-enabled mobile products. VoiceTIMES will allow mobile users to compute — anytime, anywhere.
Q: How does this fit into the mobile industries overall strategy?
A: Just like with VXML, Java and the Internet, VoiceTIMES is driving open standards technology to one day eliminate the complexity of doing business. Through pervasive computing, VoiceTIMES hopes to create an infrastructure to provide open standards for the mobile industry, including telematics.
What VoiceTimes and the concept of pervasive computing should teach you is that you CANNOT look at the concept of telematics in an isolated vacuum apart from the rest of mobile communications. For example, in connection with Voicetimes, in January 1999 IBM performed a focus group market survey regarding 3 voice driven mobile products which results were posted on IBM's Voicetimes website:
Selected Survey Results
Three 'Concepts' were discussed:
1]an 'Add-on' device to a current PDA (i.e., Palm III or Palm V),
2]an 'embedded' version that had the speech technology built-in to the device,
3]a smartphone with onboard PDA-type functions.
Immediate access to information was PVA/PDA enthusiasts' leading desire for voice-activated usage, while 'being able to contact others' was the leading desire for smartphone users. Most participants agreed that 'hands-free'/'eyes-free' operation was the feature that they found most important. The top four chosen activities were lookups and additions to phone numbers and calendar activities. Translation and web-surfing were the least useful activities studied.
Most participants would prefer to purchase a speech-enabled handheld device from an OEM was the 1st choice, and from e-stores as 2nd choice.
Final Message
Adding voice to PDAs and Smartphones is the next 'natural' step for enhancing smart handheld devices, and it supports the VoiceTIMES vision to expand Voice Technology.
Clearly the "hands-free/eyes-free" killer application is best designed for the telematics market. If you will recall, a few months later Intel announces its own PVA- Personal Veicle Assistant. In fact, over 1 1/2 years ago wtmgyes wrote IBM about VoiceTimes and received the following response:
The products we announced can and will use VoiceTIMES
specification verified devices. VoiceTIMES is the initiative to create open specifications for mobile devices. The specifications that VoiceTIMES is currently working on and will be working on in the future will be used to access the mobile Internet through our software.
Perfect examples are our voice-enabled automotive solution and the PVA. Both solutions use the VoiceTIMES specification for their internet access devices.
Tom Houy
Manager, Client Systems Marketing
IBM Speech Systems
1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=364361&x=11&y=7
In connection with writing this post, I came across an article from a German magazine posted on Siemenswebsite which contains the following which I believes exemplifies the concept that telematics will be looked at as one part of mobile communications. (Siemens is an important member of Bluetooth's Special Interest Group (SIG), a collection of wireless telecommunications and computing leaders. This group was founded in 1998 by Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia, and Toshiba to create a global specification for short-range, wireless connectivity. Here's the excerpt:
"What, then, might a normal working day look like once the promise of third-generation mobile communications has been fulfilled? Over breakfast, you might take in the latest news from the Internet on your e-book. Meanwhile, your personal digital assistant (PDA)—a UMTS terminal—coordinates the family rota for the coffee machine. With time running short, you send back unread articles to the PDA, which saves them for later. You then leave the house, having instructed the terminal to lock the door.
Once in the garage, the PDA automatically transmits your id, unlocks the vehicle and immediately consults your diary in order to work out the best route. Out on the road, it's time for a little music. So you whistle a melody into your PDA, which immediately begins an Internet search for an appropriate piece of music. At the same time, it puts through an important call from a colleague at work.
Having arrived at the office, the terminal checks for any extra appointments with the computer at your desk. It turns out you have a new customer. Naturally, electronic business cards are automatically exchanged during the first conversation. Meanwhile, a video conference organized by your PDA with engineers in France helps you to clear up a technical problem.
In this way, the working day proceeds smoothly, periodically interrupted by WAP sport and market news. By the time you're ready to leave the office, the terminal has already brought your diary up to date and booked a table at your favorite restaurant. As you head for the allotted table, a discrete tone in your breast pocket announces that the PDA has received the menu. Should you decide to activate your terminal, your favorite dish will appear at the top of the list of those on offer.
Later, as you approach your car to drive home, the vehicle door opens automatically, your favorite radio station comes on and the seat adjusts to your ideal position. Any e-mails received are read out, and the answering machine back home is checked for messages. All this could one day be possible thanks to the Voicetimes project, which enables the information terminal to handle speech in three ways: A speaker-recognition function protects the equipment against unauthorized use, just like a pin code. Voice synthesis allows information to be conveyed in the form of speech—for example, a traffic warning to drivers. Finally, speech recognition makes the keyboard redundant.
When you arrive back home, the door opens and the latest news from your favorite electronic newspaper appears on a screen. While you are reading, the coffee machine goes into action and notes important messages for the rest of the family via a Bluetooth interface.
By way of relaxation, the terminal then shows you the latest edition of new world, which contains an article describing how the fourth generation of communications technology is going to revolutionize your life.
Depending on your viewpoint, you will be left feeling elated or depressed. Ultimately, there are many missing links in the scenario sketched above—not least a description of the software that will manage the availability of your UMTS terminal while simultaneously guarding your private sphere. Moreover, the role of the automobile and the office may change radically if numerous members of the Car2Net generation decide they want to telework from home. But one thing is certain: the scenario is generally correct. Are you starting to feel your age? If so, it may well be a sign that "the times they are a-changin'.""
e.Digital's pre-VoiceTimes involvement and beyond
Prior to the formation of VoiceTimes, in August 1998, e.digital announced that it had signed an agreement to design and develop a digital voice recorder for Intel Corporation. 6/28/99 Falk newsletter: Our Intel product design will also be an important technical achievement for our team. A number of prototypes are being developed to Intel's specifications; they include PC downloading capabilities and can interact with third-party software that performs voice-to-text functions and text-to-voice functions. The integration of these functions with convenient hand-held devices is proving to be a rapid growth area for both business and personal use.
In July, 1999, a S.D. newspaper article gives some inkling about the edig/intel project:
e.Digital
POWAY -- Someday soon, people may be able to harvest news articles, e-mail and other bits of text off the Internet and listen as this information is read aloud from portable devices.
The first steps toward that ambitious goal are happening here, inside the offices of e.Digital Corp. Giant chipmaker Intel is paying the Lilliputian Poway company for research and development costs aimed at making new speech-to-text, text-to-speech gizmos. The project, which began last year but stalled when the companies dumped a third-party technology partner in favor of another unnamed firm, remains hush-hush. The companies won't even reveal drawings of what the device looks like.
Still, Skip Matthews, a senior project development manager for Intel's Memory Components Division, coyly hinted at the project's capabilities. "What if you had a device that could read The Wall Street Journal to you while you're in your car?" he said, declining to elaborate.
8/1/99 Dr. Matthews joins e.Digital's Board upon retirement from a distinguished 25-year career with Intel Corporation with his last position being Senior Project Development Manager. "I was attracted to e.Digital because they were the first to adopt flash memory in an audio recorder. There is great potential for further application of e.Digital's technology in Internet music players and even more advanced audio applications such as speech-to-text and text-to-speech systems."
8/30/99 Falk newsletter update: We are continuing to make significant progress on the Intel voice recorder prototypes with the project taking some interesting new turns into areas of new technology development that we expect will be very beneficial to e.Digital. We remain on track with IBM, Intel, Philips and our other VoiceTIMES Alliance partners in setting new protocols for voice recording in portable digital devices. [NB: Note the use of plural "prototypes". Clearly there is more than one type of device being developed as made clearer in Falk's 9/30/99 update when he refers to "new OEM relationships". Also note the reference to Philips who at the time of the formation of VoiceTimes alliance licensed IBM's TTS technology for use in future products.]
To this date we have not heard any news regarding e.Digital's 1998 project with Intel or the prototypes created therefrom. Is the project dead and buried? Should we just forget about it and move on? What do we know? It is my SPECULATION that the Intel project involved at least two different projects: the initial project involving VR for a PDA/recorder and the new turn being VR integration into a telematics system. What little facts that we do know is that e.digital had completed its work on the project sometime in 2000, a number of other companies were involved, but edig thought there would be a public announcement about it by the end of 2000. In fact no announcement came. Was this just more "RP/FF carrot BS" you believe is the only thing they have perfected? I don't think so for the following reasons.
I have previously contended that one of the 1998 intel/edig projects was part of the following:
Cadillacs to Get Voice-Activated Calling by Year's End
General Motors to embed cellular services in one million 2001 vehicles
By Lee Copeland and Lee Copeland
(Apr. 17, 2000) General Motors Corp. last week accelerated its drive to provide embedded cellular and Web-based services in its vehicles. The Detroit-based automaker said it will offer a Communiport Infotainment PC system developed by Delphi Automotive Systems Corp. in Troy, Mich., in new Cadillacs by the end of this year.
GM officials touted the cellular system as being safer to use while driving than a phone handset. Using a dashboard-based, voice-activated computer, drivers will be able to listen to e-mail messages and make cellular calls. The system is integrated with the vehicle's radio and also features a CD-ROM drive, a navigation system and a voice memo recorder. Drivers would have to forward messages from their existing messaging system to a GM-based account in order to access them from the road.
http://www.computerworld.com/cwi/Printer_Friendly_Version/0,1212,NAV47_STO44447-,00.html
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=18295
However, in December 2000, GM decided to delay the implementation of the Infotainment PC option until 2001. To the best of my knowledge, it continues to be on indefinite hold.
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=18321
What's happened since then? We again need to back up a little bit and review the Intel and IBM involvement in pervasive computing and telematics in general and then specifically.
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67769
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67776
IBM and Telematics
IBM is involved in almost every aspect of telematics, working directly with several major automobile manufacturers and with automotive suppliers including Motorola and ATX. IBM’s products and services include embedded computers, embedded Java, speech and voice recognition products like Via Voice, middleware and infrastructure products including WebSphere Everyplace Suite and WebSphere Everyplace Portal, tools and development environments for content and application providers, and hosted portals and services. Among the many telematics activities currently being pursued by automakers and others, IBM is participating in:
· DaimlerChrysler Services/Mobility Management, which provides topical tips for travelers about movies, shows, the arts and dining in the areas they visit, along with navigation aids and parking data.
· ATX’s interactive voice recognition/speech response technology, which uses IBM’s Direct Talk voice processing platform and ViaVoice speech recognition technology.
· PSA Peugeot Citroen’s prototype networked car based on Xsara Picasso, Citroen’s intelligent automotive application.
· Projects with DaimlerChrysler, Motorola, Intel and PSA Peugeot Citroen, all of which are using IBM’s VisualAge Micro Edition embedded Java 2 technology.
· Myautogarage.com from ADP, a Web-based service linking dealers with motorists for easier and faster maintenance and management of their vehicles, which is powered by IBM.
· Motorola’s iRadio offering, which uses a variety of IBM products and services to deliver e-mail and custom entertainment options to automobiles through Motorola cell phone technology.
[This is taken from a May 2001 article written by Raj Desai Director, IBM Worldwide Telematics Solutions. I highly recommend reading the full article: http://www.ebizchronicle.com/columns01/may/telematics.htm.
DELPHI
In 1998, a PR announced that IBM was working with Delphi and SunMicrosytems to develop a "network vehicle" with IBM providing java-based and VR technology. IBM has continued to work with Delphi to develop among other telematics products, the Communiport Infotainment PC. Recently, on February 13, 2002 IBM and Delphi confirmed their ongoing relationship in telematics:
IBM Receives Delphi Business For Next-Gen Multi-Media Car Products
Combines IT, Auto Expertise For Full-Fledged Digital Dashboards
ARMONK, NY, and TROY, MI--(INTERNET WIRE)--Feb 13, 2002 -- IBM (NYSE:IBM - news) announced today that Delphi Automotive Systems has chosen IBM's J9(TM) virtual machine environment, as a foundation technology for the development of automobile multimedia products. These products can enable motor vehicles to communicate in real-time with drivers, dealers, manufacturers and others in the industry's value chain.
Delphi will use the IBM J9 virtual machine environment in the design of new mobile multimedia products that include embedded, real-time control systems using full-motion video, speech and voice processing, Internet and Java(TM) technologies to enhance communications and entertainment applications for original equipment vehicles. Products expected to result from the collaboration range from dashboard control features to information, entertainment, navigation and messaging.....
IBM's embedded virtual machine technology has been developed, deployed and refined for more than a dozen years. In August 2001, IBM was the first to develop and distribute the J9 J2ME "Java Powered" environment simultaneously across multiple platforms. The J9 virtual machine environment has proved in independent testing to provide a high-performance, compact environment for running embedded Java applications across a broad range of processors. Complementing the J9 virtual machine, IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition allows developers to quickly and easily create and deploy e-business applications to automotive Telematics devices, hand-held computers, PDA's and cellular telephones. More information is available at www.ibm.com/embedded.
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM is among the first companies to offer leading-edge technology and tools to its customers and enable them to deliver advanced Telematics Solutions. Through years of expertise and research in the Automotive industry, IBM and IBM Business Partners have built a flexible and reliable portfolio of software (such as speech recognition and wireless technologies), hardware, IT services, development platforms and innovative tools. Our end-to-end architecture fully integrates open standards. It links both portable and embedded hardware devices to the Internet via wireless networks and leverages Java applications to exchange data to and from the vehicles with Wireless Telematics Service Providers. Addressing issues such as safety, privacy, convenience and connectivity, our in-vehicle information systems and solutions enable our customers to deliver hands-free and eyes-free technology as part of developing invaluable and long-term relationships with their customers. As the Telematics revolution is now gaining momentum in other industries such as Insurance, Petroleum and Commercial market, our vision will prepare our customers for the next generation of e-business infrastructure for many years to come. Please visit our Telematics Solutions site at www.ibm.com/industries/automotive for further details and references.
On October 26, 2001, IBM announced a broad range of new customers, partners and products in its comprehensive strategy to provide voice recognition software for mobile e-business.
New customers and partners span three continents and key targets of IBM's voice business: the automobile industry for telematics, the growing market segment for products and services that deliver wireless voice and data information to vehicles; manufacturers of personal digital assistants and other mobile devices; telephone call centers; and e-businesses of all sizes.
They include major automotive supplier Johnson Controls, which has chosen IBM's Embedded ViaVoice as the speech software for its telematics offerings - including an innovative, voice-enabled communications system that will be deployed by the Chrysler Group.
IBM's voice recognition software relies on open, non-proprietary standards such as VoiceXML and Java, which make it easy to create software for people to access information by voice over the phone and helps businesses integrate disparate systems.
IBM's new customers and partners in telematics:
Plymouth, Mich.-based automotive supplier Johnson Controls has selected IBM as its speech software provider for all of its upcoming telematics offerings to the auto industry. Its first implementation is a voice-enabled mobile communications system for the Chrysler Group. An industry first, the system requires only the push of a button to make a call - all other functions are engaged via voice commnds. It consists of a receiver module behind the dashboard, an embedded microphone in the rear-view mirror, and the driver's own mobile phone. The phone will synchronize with the receiver module to create a wireless connection via Bluetooth technology with the car's audio system. When a call is placed, audio is suspended, and the call comes through the speakers. IBM's software will allow drivers to use spoken commands (in English, French or Spanish) to place calls or access the system's audio address book, customizable by the owner. The system will be available in an aftermarket version in spring 2002 and factory installed in 2003.
Intel is working with IBM's Embedded ViaVoice to support its strategy to deliver a non-proprietary, standards-based in-car platform based on Intel® StrongARM and upcoming Intel® XScale processors. Designed for ultra-low power and high performance, the Intel XScale microarchitecture is an ideal microprocessor solution for telematics.
Hitachi, a worldwide provider of car infotainment systems, is supporting IBM's Embedded Via Voice recognition on Hitachi SH-4-based platforms (HARP) for automotive applications. The hardware platforms are designed to run with all major operating systems.
QNX, a provider of operating systems for automobile electronics, has partnered with IBM for voice recognition. The QNX operating system will support the Embedded ViaVoice product for telematics. Embedded ViaVoice runs on both an operating system and a hardware platform to ensure the two interoperate. Voice-enabled telematics applications developed on the QNX operating system are designed to run on major automotive telematics platforms such as Intel, Hitachi and Motorola.
In the handheld computer market:
Legend Computers, the largest computer company in China, has chosen IBM's Embedded ViaVoice Mobility Suite in simpilfied Chinese to voice-enable its new handheld computers to be available in Q1 2002. The IBM software will give users a natural alternative to the stylus or keyboard in operating the devices, and the added convenience of being able to listen to rather than read information and messages.
On Oct. 4, Compaq announced it is using IBM's Embedded ViaVoice Mobility Suite to voice-enable its new iPAQ H3800 Pocket PC Series, one of the world's first commercially available handheld computers to let users access and receive information with human speech.
MOTOROLA
On 9/14/99, Motorola announced a relationship with QNX Software Systems Ltd., IBM, and Embedded Planet (formerly RPCG) to develop MobileGT Architecture, initially targeted for automotive driver information systems. MobileGT is an open, Java-centric architecture that can allow automobile manufacturers to easily and cost-effectively develop advanced driver information systems to fit their specific platforms. MobileGT's flexible, modular computing platform is scaleable across a wide range of products, allowing automobile manufacturers to leverage a common development approach while providing product differentiation through tailored and system integration. MobileGT can address a wide array of in-vehicle applications -- dynamic navigation, wireless connectivity and Internet access, natural language speech processing, car audio, virtual dashboards, multimedia and more.
MobileGT also incorporates IBM's VisualAge for Embedded Systems, Java(TM) Technology Edition virtual machine and development tools optimized for use with QNX Neutrino. This proven execution environment supports configuration-based deployment of applications, giving the developers the ability to build ultra-compact runtime components.
In follow-up, on January 14, 2000, IBM and Motorola said they will join to develop technology to help automakers add a variety of wireless and Web-based services automobiles.The companies will focus on telematics which includes communications and navigation capabilities such as real-time traffic routing. It also can include Internet capabilities such as e-mail.
The companies note that because cars move, telematics requires a network connection that is both precise and durable. IBM says it will contribute its expertise in computer hardware, software and network management.
Beyond those generalities, the companies offered few details, other than to say they already were approaching automotive manufacturers about potential products.
IBM/Mot formed a platform called MobileGT, an easily upgradable computer that can accept peripherals like cell phones, PDAs and other gear that might be used in cars. http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20000211S0057
With the coming of AMIC [the Automotive Multimedia Interface Consortium], the industry said it wanted Java, and that became a central theme for our group."
In March, 2000, IBM and Motorola announced plans to join forces to help meet the growing demand for e-businesses worldwide to link data and applications to wireless devices. The companies today announced their intent to jointly develop an open, highly scalable offering that will form the basis of a "voice and data engine" which will offer businesses an easy way to develop and access wireless applications and services.
For example, carriers could use this offering to allow businesses to provide mobile workers real-time access to email, stock quotes, news, and corporate resources via wireless devices. By combining Motorola's device-aware front-end technology with IBM's middleware technology, this framework will provide optimal wireless data services to businesses around the world.
Mark Bregman, general manager of IBM's Pervasive Computing Division said "Working together with Motorola we will get to market faster with a product that operators need to give their business subscribers what they crave - access to information and services, virtually anytime, anywhere."
This relationship builds on the existing collaboration between IBM and Motorola to enable the delivery of innovative new telematics products. In January, the companies announced that they would work together to provide the end-to-end resources to help car manufacturers offer exciting new wireless services to their customers. The agreement builds on the strong position of Motorola's Integrated Electronic Systems Sector (IESS) group with IBM's systems and services expertise.
On January 9, 2001, Motorola announced that it will license Java technology and voice recognition software from IBM, for use in the Motorola Telematics iRadio™ system. The Motorola iRadio™ system is a complete solution that offers a packaged multimedia functionality, which can be accessed at home, in the car and on the individual mobile devices. The Java-based platform allows the product to access personalised, location-based services, real time traffic information, dynamic off-board navigation, music-on- demand, eCommerce options and email. With speech recognition and additional features, Motorola's iRadio system delivers information, communications and entertainment to the car without diverting the driver's attention. Motorola's iRadio offers the latest user interfaces and applications and IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition Java technology. A key feature of IBM's Java technology is that it enables new applications and services to be added and enhanced remotely without inconveniencing consumers.
Motorola is also using IBM Embedded ViaVoice Multiplatform Edition for voice recognition and text-to-speech capabilities.
IBM's ViaVoice enables drivers to use voice commands, as an alternative input to faceplate controls, for accessing information such as weather, news and sports, select a favorite radio station or other iRadio system applications.
INTEL
At the same time IBM and Motorola announced its telematics relationship, so did IBM and Intel; Motorola said it would support the IBM/Intel work. On 1/25/00 Intel and IBM announced they are collaborating on in-car computing products that will enable automakers to provide wireless and Web-based services such as navigation, communication, and information. IBM will provide its Pervasive Computing software, which is a suite of advanced software for managing the in-vehicle information systems. The software suite includes IBM's VisualAge MicroEdition, which incorporates embedded Java, as well as voice-recognition and text-to-speech functions. This software is used, along with interfaces to the vehicle, to communicate information to the driver and the outside world via the Internet. The companies said Motorola Inc. will also support the venture.
Intel's role will be to provide extended-temperature versions of the Pentium processor as well as in-car computing reference platforms. The extended-temperature Pentiums will be able to withstand a range of -40 C to +85 C degrees ambient -- the range of temperatures in which automobiles operate.
IBM and Intel officials said the partnership won't compete with carmakers or auto suppliers developing technology to create Web-enabled vehicles. In fact, they're potential customers. "Automakers and their suppliers are our partners," said Walt Davison, IBM's marketing executive for the automotive industry. "We're not competing with them; were doing what we do best to help them do what they do best." IBM expects automakers to start offering vehicles with in-car computing systems next year. "The earliest consumers will see vehicles with in-car computing systems on the road will be in 18 months," Desai said.
http://detnews.com/2000/technology/0002/10/02100040.htm
IBM claims: Automotive pervasive computing is a reality -- where people use ViaVoice speech recognition and text-to-speech software to interact with their automobiles the same way that they interact with their computers. IBM is working with automobile manufacturers so that drivers can run diagnostics from the road, search the Internet for a stock price and even make a service appointment with the manufacturer simply by speaking to their e-mail.
In July 2000, IBM announced that engineers and developers can now deploy connected Java language-based solutions across a wider array of embedded targets using IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition tools, class libraries and virtual machines. While VisualAge Micro Edition remains optimized for QNX's Neutrino real-time operating system, IBM has also added support for the iTRON industrial real time operating system and Microsoft Windows CE in response to customer requests.
"Engineering decisions in the connected post-PC world must focus on customer choice. From the start, IBM designed and built VisualAge Micro Edition for portability and compatibility with published specifications," said Skip McGaughey, IBM director of embedded systems sales and marketing. "As our customers have approached us for new CPU, RTOS and development platform support, we have responded quickly, thanks to our investment in innovation and advanced technology."
Pervasive computing projects will require client and server components that run on multiple embedded targets.
Support for the ARM processor architectures is now included in VisualAge Micro Edition. This includes StrongARM SA-110 and SA-1110 processors and development reference boards from Intel.
On 10/16/00, Intel announced plans to collaborate with IBM* to deliver a non-proprietary, standards-based in-car client platform for the expanding Telematics market segment. This collaboration will speed up the delivery of a complete set of Telematics client reference kits supporting the Intel® XScale™ microarchitecture. These kits will enable developers and original equipment manufacturers to reduce their time to market and create leading-edge wireless applications. IBM's popular VisualAge® Micro Edition Java™ application development tools and deployment technologies allow developers to quickly and easily leverage existing applications for e-Business.
Telematics is the market segment that includes cellular voice and Internet services in vehicles. Examples of in-car computing devices and services include navigation systems, emergency roadside assistance, and an array of entertainment applications and services.
Intel's support of IBM's embedded Java application development environment, Java class libraries and the J9 virtual machine for Intel's Xscale microarchitecture reference platforms provides Telematics developers and OEMs with a highly portable and reusable platform. "We are pleased to provide the burgeoning Telematics application development industry and OEMs with what are arguably the strongest wireless building blocks in the industry," said Pat Kerrigan, marketing manager at Intel's In-Car Computing Operation.
"Automotive computing is an important and growing market segment that both Intel and IBM serve with advanced technology and products," said Skip McGaughey, director of marketing and sales for IBM's OTI embedded system group. "With this announcement, IBM takes the important step to broaden VisualAge Micro Edition to embrace Intel's Xscale microarchitecture. www.intel.com/design/wireless/telematics/converge.htm.
On April 11, 2001, Intel Corporation announced that leading in-car computing software platform vendors are delivering support for the Intel StrongARM processor and future processors based on the Intel XScale microarchitecture. Microsoft Corp., IBM, QNX Software Systems Ltd., Wind River Systems, Inc., Fonix Corporation and Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V. are supporting the Intel StrongARM and Intel XScale microarchitectures to enable developers and original equipment manufacturers to reduce "time-to-market" and create sophisticated in-car, voice-enabled wireless applications.
The core software platform recipe for devices in the in-car computing, or telematics, market segment consists of open, scaleable software platforms, extensible and comprehensive development tools and such key complementary technologies -as speech recognition. These combined elements are necessary to deliver adaptable, scaleable telematics devices that will enable and enhance applications and services for the automotive industry. "Our customers asked for each of these solutions by name," said Pat Kerrigan, director for Intel's In-Car Computing Operation. "We feel we have secured industry-wide support from key players to maximize the benefits of the Intel® Personal Internet Client Architecture and to provide our mutual customers with the best telematics development platforms available."
January 7, 2002- e.Digital Corporation and Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten announced today that the companies have collaborated for several months to develop and deliver state-of-the-art automotive OEM and aftermarket infotainment systems integrating the latest digital audio, voice recognition, data storage, video, and wireless Internet technologies for sale under the Eclipse brand name. This includes integration of onboard cellular phone, GPS, video, and audio into a single voice-controlled automotive system. Technology development will include navigation and control as well as wireless access and integration with home networks."
As many of you know, I have been looking into e.digital's possible involvement in the telematics market for almost two years. I confess and acknowledge that I was surprised by the announcement with Fujitsu Ten. Something you should keep in mind when reading the remainder of this. So is that it, did I miss the boat in my previous ruminations on this topic. I think not but only time will tell--but we are not too far off now.
So if anyone is interested, I have decided to put on my "longtooth" and update some prior ramblings on the topic-- may be even in time for the 2/19/02 edig CC. Recent communications from e.digital's management would suggest in fact that its telematics agenda is becoming one of its important markets.
January 16, 2002
Automotive Business
We were pleased to announce last week an automotive product developed and designed through our collaboration with Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten. The Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten automotive product (MP-3 Changer) introduced at CES represents the first automotive system incorporating e.Digital's MicroOS and VoiceNav(TM) technologies. In addition to the design shown at the Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten booth, e.Digital demonstrated an advanced prototype of the product utilizing a beta version of its MicroOS 3.0 which enables music files to be remotely transferred from a PC to the player via 802.11 wireless protocol.
The Eclipse by Fujitsu Ten product is the first of several major opportunities for our technology to be included in next-generation automotive infotainment systems. Infotainment systems are part of the automotive telematics market, which is expected to be worth over $1.1 billion in 2002, and projected to grow 16-fold by 2006. (Telematics Research Group). There is significant interest among several automotive electronics manufacturers and suppliers in e.Digital's digital data management and wireless infotainment solutions. Automotive infotainment and telematics applications are expected to generate substantial licensing, NRE fees, and royalties for your Company. Each OEM agreement may also include revenue for manufacturing services, warranty services, marketing, customer service, order fulfillment, and technical support services.
February 11, 2002
Automotive Business
The burgeoning automotive telematics market is a strategic target for our immediate and long-term business expansion. e.Digital technology, including our MicroOSTM file management system and our VoiceNavTM user-independent speech recognition interface, enables automotive OEMs and ODMs to incorporate additional features and successfully meet safety objectives in automotive telematics and infotainment solutions.
Automotive telematics is the wireless exchange or delivery of communication, information, and other content between the auto and/or occupants and external sources....Based on over two years of internal development, and growing interest in our VoiceNav and MicroOS technologies, we are making automotive telematics solutions a primary focus of our OEM and ODM technology development and marketing efforts.
Based on the work we have done and continue to do, we are expanding our business in this area and taking advantage of significant near-term and long-term revenue opportunities available to us. The revenue opportunities from the automotive telematics applications of our products and technologies is potentially far greater than even those from portable consumer devices, both in royalties and margins.
As e.digital has acknowledged, this is not an area of business that it just dreamed up and started a few months back with Fujitsu. I would suggest e.digital's beginnings in this area were an outgrowth of the VoiceTimes' alliance and its previous dealings with Intel and IBM which no doubt led to it being included as an inaugural member of VoiceTimes.
VoiceTimes alliance
April 13, 1999 – e.Digital Corporation along with IBM, Intel and other leaders in speech recognition and mobile technologies today announced at the DemoMobile 99 conference the formation of the Voice Technology Initiative for Mobile Enterprise Solutions (VoiceTIMES)....With the explosive growth of mobile devices and the increasing demand for network access, the VoiceTIMES initiative was formed to define specifications for how voice commands and information are transmitted and received by existing and future mobile devices.
''We believe VoiceTIMES will allow e.Digital to expand development of speech-based mobile information gathering devices and leverage our product designs in to many additional industry solutions.'' (Falk} ''In today's world of pervasive computing, users want simple, fast and hassle free mobile computing devices to connect and communicate.'' said W.S. ''Ozzie'' Osborne, general manager of IBM Speech Systems. ''Through joint collaboration, the VoiceTIMES alliance aims to eliminate complexities for the consumer and solutions integrator, while providing future generations of standard compliant speech-enabled mobile products. VoiceTIMES will allow mobile users to compute — anytime, anywhere.
Q: How does this fit into the mobile industries overall strategy?
A: Just like with VXML, Java and the Internet, VoiceTIMES is driving open standards technology to one day eliminate the complexity of doing business. Through pervasive computing, VoiceTIMES hopes to create an infrastructure to provide open standards for the mobile industry, including telematics.
What VoiceTimes and the concept of pervasive computing should teach you is that you CANNOT look at the concept of telematics in an isolated vacuum apart from the rest of mobile communications. For example, in connection with Voicetimes, in January 1999 IBM performed a focus group market survey regarding 3 voice driven mobile products which results were posted on IBM's Voicetimes website:
Selected Survey Results
Three 'Concepts' were discussed:
1]an 'Add-on' device to a current PDA (i.e., Palm III or Palm V),
2]an 'embedded' version that had the speech technology built-in to the device,
3]a smartphone with onboard PDA-type functions.
Immediate access to information was PVA/PDA enthusiasts' leading desire for voice-activated usage, while 'being able to contact others' was the leading desire for smartphone users. Most participants agreed that 'hands-free'/'eyes-free' operation was the feature that they found most important. The top four chosen activities were lookups and additions to phone numbers and calendar activities. Translation and web-surfing were the least useful activities studied.
Most participants would prefer to purchase a speech-enabled handheld device from an OEM was the 1st choice, and from e-stores as 2nd choice.
Final Message
Adding voice to PDAs and Smartphones is the next 'natural' step for enhancing smart handheld devices, and it supports the VoiceTIMES vision to expand Voice Technology.
Clearly the "hands-free/eyes-free" killer application is best designed for the telematics market. If you will recall, a few months later Intel announces its own PVA- Personal Veicle Assistant. In fact, over 1 1/2 years ago wtmgyes wrote IBM about VoiceTimes and received the following response:
The products we announced can and will use VoiceTIMES
specification verified devices. VoiceTIMES is the initiative to create open specifications for mobile devices. The specifications that VoiceTIMES is currently working on and will be working on in the future will be used to access the mobile Internet through our software.
Perfect examples are our voice-enabled automotive solution and the PVA. Both solutions use the VoiceTIMES specification for their internet access devices.
Tom Houy
Manager, Client Systems Marketing
IBM Speech Systems
1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=EDIG&read=364361&x=11&y=7
In connection with writing this post, I came across an article from a German magazine posted on Siemenswebsite which contains the following which I believes exemplifies the concept that telematics will be looked at as one part of mobile communications. (Siemens is an important member of Bluetooth's Special Interest Group (SIG), a collection of wireless telecommunications and computing leaders. This group was founded in 1998 by Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia, and Toshiba to create a global specification for short-range, wireless connectivity. Here's the excerpt:
"What, then, might a normal working day look like once the promise of third-generation mobile communications has been fulfilled? Over breakfast, you might take in the latest news from the Internet on your e-book. Meanwhile, your personal digital assistant (PDA)—a UMTS terminal—coordinates the family rota for the coffee machine. With time running short, you send back unread articles to the PDA, which saves them for later. You then leave the house, having instructed the terminal to lock the door.
Once in the garage, the PDA automatically transmits your id, unlocks the vehicle and immediately consults your diary in order to work out the best route. Out on the road, it's time for a little music. So you whistle a melody into your PDA, which immediately begins an Internet search for an appropriate piece of music. At the same time, it puts through an important call from a colleague at work.
Having arrived at the office, the terminal checks for any extra appointments with the computer at your desk. It turns out you have a new customer. Naturally, electronic business cards are automatically exchanged during the first conversation. Meanwhile, a video conference organized by your PDA with engineers in France helps you to clear up a technical problem.
In this way, the working day proceeds smoothly, periodically interrupted by WAP sport and market news. By the time you're ready to leave the office, the terminal has already brought your diary up to date and booked a table at your favorite restaurant. As you head for the allotted table, a discrete tone in your breast pocket announces that the PDA has received the menu. Should you decide to activate your terminal, your favorite dish will appear at the top of the list of those on offer.
Later, as you approach your car to drive home, the vehicle door opens automatically, your favorite radio station comes on and the seat adjusts to your ideal position. Any e-mails received are read out, and the answering machine back home is checked for messages. All this could one day be possible thanks to the Voicetimes project, which enables the information terminal to handle speech in three ways: A speaker-recognition function protects the equipment against unauthorized use, just like a pin code. Voice synthesis allows information to be conveyed in the form of speech—for example, a traffic warning to drivers. Finally, speech recognition makes the keyboard redundant.
When you arrive back home, the door opens and the latest news from your favorite electronic newspaper appears on a screen. While you are reading, the coffee machine goes into action and notes important messages for the rest of the family via a Bluetooth interface.
By way of relaxation, the terminal then shows you the latest edition of new world, which contains an article describing how the fourth generation of communications technology is going to revolutionize your life.
Depending on your viewpoint, you will be left feeling elated or depressed. Ultimately, there are many missing links in the scenario sketched above—not least a description of the software that will manage the availability of your UMTS terminal while simultaneously guarding your private sphere. Moreover, the role of the automobile and the office may change radically if numerous members of the Car2Net generation decide they want to telework from home. But one thing is certain: the scenario is generally correct. Are you starting to feel your age? If so, it may well be a sign that "the times they are a-changin'.""
e.Digital's pre-VoiceTimes involvement and beyond
Prior to the formation of VoiceTimes, in August 1998, e.digital announced that it had signed an agreement to design and develop a digital voice recorder for Intel Corporation. 6/28/99 Falk newsletter: Our Intel product design will also be an important technical achievement for our team. A number of prototypes are being developed to Intel's specifications; they include PC downloading capabilities and can interact with third-party software that performs voice-to-text functions and text-to-voice functions. The integration of these functions with convenient hand-held devices is proving to be a rapid growth area for both business and personal use.
In July, 1999, a S.D. newspaper article gives some inkling about the edig/intel project:
e.Digital
POWAY -- Someday soon, people may be able to harvest news articles, e-mail and other bits of text off the Internet and listen as this information is read aloud from portable devices.
The first steps toward that ambitious goal are happening here, inside the offices of e.Digital Corp. Giant chipmaker Intel is paying the Lilliputian Poway company for research and development costs aimed at making new speech-to-text, text-to-speech gizmos. The project, which began last year but stalled when the companies dumped a third-party technology partner in favor of another unnamed firm, remains hush-hush. The companies won't even reveal drawings of what the device looks like.
Still, Skip Matthews, a senior project development manager for Intel's Memory Components Division, coyly hinted at the project's capabilities. "What if you had a device that could read The Wall Street Journal to you while you're in your car?" he said, declining to elaborate.
8/1/99 Dr. Matthews joins e.Digital's Board upon retirement from a distinguished 25-year career with Intel Corporation with his last position being Senior Project Development Manager. "I was attracted to e.Digital because they were the first to adopt flash memory in an audio recorder. There is great potential for further application of e.Digital's technology in Internet music players and even more advanced audio applications such as speech-to-text and text-to-speech systems."
8/30/99 Falk newsletter update: We are continuing to make significant progress on the Intel voice recorder prototypes with the project taking some interesting new turns into areas of new technology development that we expect will be very beneficial to e.Digital. We remain on track with IBM, Intel, Philips and our other VoiceTIMES Alliance partners in setting new protocols for voice recording in portable digital devices. [NB: Note the use of plural "prototypes". Clearly there is more than one type of device being developed as made clearer in Falk's 9/30/99 update when he refers to "new OEM relationships". Also note the reference to Philips who at the time of the formation of VoiceTimes alliance licensed IBM's TTS technology for use in future products.]
To this date we have not heard any news regarding e.Digital's 1998 project with Intel or the prototypes created therefrom. Is the project dead and buried? Should we just forget about it and move on? What do we know? It is my SPECULATION that the Intel project involved at least two different projects: the initial project involving VR for a PDA/recorder and the new turn being VR integration into a telematics system. What little facts that we do know is that e.digital had completed its work on the project sometime in 2000, a number of other companies were involved, but edig thought there would be a public announcement about it by the end of 2000. In fact no announcement came. Was this just more "RP/FF carrot BS" you believe is the only thing they have perfected? I don't think so for the following reasons.
I have previously contended that one of the 1998 intel/edig projects was part of the following:
Cadillacs to Get Voice-Activated Calling by Year's End
General Motors to embed cellular services in one million 2001 vehicles
By Lee Copeland and Lee Copeland
(Apr. 17, 2000) General Motors Corp. last week accelerated its drive to provide embedded cellular and Web-based services in its vehicles. The Detroit-based automaker said it will offer a Communiport Infotainment PC system developed by Delphi Automotive Systems Corp. in Troy, Mich., in new Cadillacs by the end of this year.
GM officials touted the cellular system as being safer to use while driving than a phone handset. Using a dashboard-based, voice-activated computer, drivers will be able to listen to e-mail messages and make cellular calls. The system is integrated with the vehicle's radio and also features a CD-ROM drive, a navigation system and a voice memo recorder. Drivers would have to forward messages from their existing messaging system to a GM-based account in order to access them from the road.
http://www.computerworld.com/cwi/Printer_Friendly_Version/0,1212,NAV47_STO44447-,00.html
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=18295
However, in December 2000, GM decided to delay the implementation of the Infotainment PC option until 2001. To the best of my knowledge, it continues to be on indefinite hold.
http://ragingbull.lycos.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=CLB00154&read=18321
What's happened since then? We again need to back up a little bit and review the Intel and IBM involvement in pervasive computing and telematics in general and then specifically.
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67769
http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=67776
IBM and Telematics
IBM is involved in almost every aspect of telematics, working directly with several major automobile manufacturers and with automotive suppliers including Motorola and ATX. IBM’s products and services include embedded computers, embedded Java, speech and voice recognition products like Via Voice, middleware and infrastructure products including WebSphere Everyplace Suite and WebSphere Everyplace Portal, tools and development environments for content and application providers, and hosted portals and services. Among the many telematics activities currently being pursued by automakers and others, IBM is participating in:
· DaimlerChrysler Services/Mobility Management, which provides topical tips for travelers about movies, shows, the arts and dining in the areas they visit, along with navigation aids and parking data.
· ATX’s interactive voice recognition/speech response technology, which uses IBM’s Direct Talk voice processing platform and ViaVoice speech recognition technology.
· PSA Peugeot Citroen’s prototype networked car based on Xsara Picasso, Citroen’s intelligent automotive application.
· Projects with DaimlerChrysler, Motorola, Intel and PSA Peugeot Citroen, all of which are using IBM’s VisualAge Micro Edition embedded Java 2 technology.
· Myautogarage.com from ADP, a Web-based service linking dealers with motorists for easier and faster maintenance and management of their vehicles, which is powered by IBM.
· Motorola’s iRadio offering, which uses a variety of IBM products and services to deliver e-mail and custom entertainment options to automobiles through Motorola cell phone technology.
[This is taken from a May 2001 article written by Raj Desai Director, IBM Worldwide Telematics Solutions. I highly recommend reading the full article: http://www.ebizchronicle.com/columns01/may/telematics.htm.
DELPHI
In 1998, a PR announced that IBM was working with Delphi and SunMicrosytems to develop a "network vehicle" with IBM providing java-based and VR technology. IBM has continued to work with Delphi to develop among other telematics products, the Communiport Infotainment PC. Recently, on February 13, 2002 IBM and Delphi confirmed their ongoing relationship in telematics:
IBM Receives Delphi Business For Next-Gen Multi-Media Car Products
Combines IT, Auto Expertise For Full-Fledged Digital Dashboards
ARMONK, NY, and TROY, MI--(INTERNET WIRE)--Feb 13, 2002 -- IBM (NYSE:IBM - news) announced today that Delphi Automotive Systems has chosen IBM's J9(TM) virtual machine environment, as a foundation technology for the development of automobile multimedia products. These products can enable motor vehicles to communicate in real-time with drivers, dealers, manufacturers and others in the industry's value chain.
Delphi will use the IBM J9 virtual machine environment in the design of new mobile multimedia products that include embedded, real-time control systems using full-motion video, speech and voice processing, Internet and Java(TM) technologies to enhance communications and entertainment applications for original equipment vehicles. Products expected to result from the collaboration range from dashboard control features to information, entertainment, navigation and messaging.....
IBM's embedded virtual machine technology has been developed, deployed and refined for more than a dozen years. In August 2001, IBM was the first to develop and distribute the J9 J2ME "Java Powered" environment simultaneously across multiple platforms. The J9 virtual machine environment has proved in independent testing to provide a high-performance, compact environment for running embedded Java applications across a broad range of processors. Complementing the J9 virtual machine, IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition allows developers to quickly and easily create and deploy e-business applications to automotive Telematics devices, hand-held computers, PDA's and cellular telephones. More information is available at www.ibm.com/embedded.
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM is among the first companies to offer leading-edge technology and tools to its customers and enable them to deliver advanced Telematics Solutions. Through years of expertise and research in the Automotive industry, IBM and IBM Business Partners have built a flexible and reliable portfolio of software (such as speech recognition and wireless technologies), hardware, IT services, development platforms and innovative tools. Our end-to-end architecture fully integrates open standards. It links both portable and embedded hardware devices to the Internet via wireless networks and leverages Java applications to exchange data to and from the vehicles with Wireless Telematics Service Providers. Addressing issues such as safety, privacy, convenience and connectivity, our in-vehicle information systems and solutions enable our customers to deliver hands-free and eyes-free technology as part of developing invaluable and long-term relationships with their customers. As the Telematics revolution is now gaining momentum in other industries such as Insurance, Petroleum and Commercial market, our vision will prepare our customers for the next generation of e-business infrastructure for many years to come. Please visit our Telematics Solutions site at www.ibm.com/industries/automotive for further details and references.
On October 26, 2001, IBM announced a broad range of new customers, partners and products in its comprehensive strategy to provide voice recognition software for mobile e-business.
New customers and partners span three continents and key targets of IBM's voice business: the automobile industry for telematics, the growing market segment for products and services that deliver wireless voice and data information to vehicles; manufacturers of personal digital assistants and other mobile devices; telephone call centers; and e-businesses of all sizes.
They include major automotive supplier Johnson Controls, which has chosen IBM's Embedded ViaVoice as the speech software for its telematics offerings - including an innovative, voice-enabled communications system that will be deployed by the Chrysler Group.
IBM's voice recognition software relies on open, non-proprietary standards such as VoiceXML and Java, which make it easy to create software for people to access information by voice over the phone and helps businesses integrate disparate systems.
IBM's new customers and partners in telematics:
Plymouth, Mich.-based automotive supplier Johnson Controls has selected IBM as its speech software provider for all of its upcoming telematics offerings to the auto industry. Its first implementation is a voice-enabled mobile communications system for the Chrysler Group. An industry first, the system requires only the push of a button to make a call - all other functions are engaged via voice commnds. It consists of a receiver module behind the dashboard, an embedded microphone in the rear-view mirror, and the driver's own mobile phone. The phone will synchronize with the receiver module to create a wireless connection via Bluetooth technology with the car's audio system. When a call is placed, audio is suspended, and the call comes through the speakers. IBM's software will allow drivers to use spoken commands (in English, French or Spanish) to place calls or access the system's audio address book, customizable by the owner. The system will be available in an aftermarket version in spring 2002 and factory installed in 2003.
Intel is working with IBM's Embedded ViaVoice to support its strategy to deliver a non-proprietary, standards-based in-car platform based on Intel® StrongARM and upcoming Intel® XScale processors. Designed for ultra-low power and high performance, the Intel XScale microarchitecture is an ideal microprocessor solution for telematics.
Hitachi, a worldwide provider of car infotainment systems, is supporting IBM's Embedded Via Voice recognition on Hitachi SH-4-based platforms (HARP) for automotive applications. The hardware platforms are designed to run with all major operating systems.
QNX, a provider of operating systems for automobile electronics, has partnered with IBM for voice recognition. The QNX operating system will support the Embedded ViaVoice product for telematics. Embedded ViaVoice runs on both an operating system and a hardware platform to ensure the two interoperate. Voice-enabled telematics applications developed on the QNX operating system are designed to run on major automotive telematics platforms such as Intel, Hitachi and Motorola.
In the handheld computer market:
Legend Computers, the largest computer company in China, has chosen IBM's Embedded ViaVoice Mobility Suite in simpilfied Chinese to voice-enable its new handheld computers to be available in Q1 2002. The IBM software will give users a natural alternative to the stylus or keyboard in operating the devices, and the added convenience of being able to listen to rather than read information and messages.
On Oct. 4, Compaq announced it is using IBM's Embedded ViaVoice Mobility Suite to voice-enable its new iPAQ H3800 Pocket PC Series, one of the world's first commercially available handheld computers to let users access and receive information with human speech.
MOTOROLA
On 9/14/99, Motorola announced a relationship with QNX Software Systems Ltd., IBM, and Embedded Planet (formerly RPCG) to develop MobileGT Architecture, initially targeted for automotive driver information systems. MobileGT is an open, Java-centric architecture that can allow automobile manufacturers to easily and cost-effectively develop advanced driver information systems to fit their specific platforms. MobileGT's flexible, modular computing platform is scaleable across a wide range of products, allowing automobile manufacturers to leverage a common development approach while providing product differentiation through tailored and system integration. MobileGT can address a wide array of in-vehicle applications -- dynamic navigation, wireless connectivity and Internet access, natural language speech processing, car audio, virtual dashboards, multimedia and more.
MobileGT also incorporates IBM's VisualAge for Embedded Systems, Java(TM) Technology Edition virtual machine and development tools optimized for use with QNX Neutrino. This proven execution environment supports configuration-based deployment of applications, giving the developers the ability to build ultra-compact runtime components.
In follow-up, on January 14, 2000, IBM and Motorola said they will join to develop technology to help automakers add a variety of wireless and Web-based services automobiles.The companies will focus on telematics which includes communications and navigation capabilities such as real-time traffic routing. It also can include Internet capabilities such as e-mail.
The companies note that because cars move, telematics requires a network connection that is both precise and durable. IBM says it will contribute its expertise in computer hardware, software and network management.
Beyond those generalities, the companies offered few details, other than to say they already were approaching automotive manufacturers about potential products.
IBM/Mot formed a platform called MobileGT, an easily upgradable computer that can accept peripherals like cell phones, PDAs and other gear that might be used in cars. http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20000211S0057
With the coming of AMIC [the Automotive Multimedia Interface Consortium], the industry said it wanted Java, and that became a central theme for our group."
In March, 2000, IBM and Motorola announced plans to join forces to help meet the growing demand for e-businesses worldwide to link data and applications to wireless devices. The companies today announced their intent to jointly develop an open, highly scalable offering that will form the basis of a "voice and data engine" which will offer businesses an easy way to develop and access wireless applications and services.
For example, carriers could use this offering to allow businesses to provide mobile workers real-time access to email, stock quotes, news, and corporate resources via wireless devices. By combining Motorola's device-aware front-end technology with IBM's middleware technology, this framework will provide optimal wireless data services to businesses around the world.
Mark Bregman, general manager of IBM's Pervasive Computing Division said "Working together with Motorola we will get to market faster with a product that operators need to give their business subscribers what they crave - access to information and services, virtually anytime, anywhere."
This relationship builds on the existing collaboration between IBM and Motorola to enable the delivery of innovative new telematics products. In January, the companies announced that they would work together to provide the end-to-end resources to help car manufacturers offer exciting new wireless services to their customers. The agreement builds on the strong position of Motorola's Integrated Electronic Systems Sector (IESS) group with IBM's systems and services expertise.
On January 9, 2001, Motorola announced that it will license Java technology and voice recognition software from IBM, for use in the Motorola Telematics iRadio™ system. The Motorola iRadio™ system is a complete solution that offers a packaged multimedia functionality, which can be accessed at home, in the car and on the individual mobile devices. The Java-based platform allows the product to access personalised, location-based services, real time traffic information, dynamic off-board navigation, music-on- demand, eCommerce options and email. With speech recognition and additional features, Motorola's iRadio system delivers information, communications and entertainment to the car without diverting the driver's attention. Motorola's iRadio offers the latest user interfaces and applications and IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition Java technology. A key feature of IBM's Java technology is that it enables new applications and services to be added and enhanced remotely without inconveniencing consumers.
Motorola is also using IBM Embedded ViaVoice Multiplatform Edition for voice recognition and text-to-speech capabilities.
IBM's ViaVoice enables drivers to use voice commands, as an alternative input to faceplate controls, for accessing information such as weather, news and sports, select a favorite radio station or other iRadio system applications.
INTEL
At the same time IBM and Motorola announced its telematics relationship, so did IBM and Intel; Motorola said it would support the IBM/Intel work. On 1/25/00 Intel and IBM announced they are collaborating on in-car computing products that will enable automakers to provide wireless and Web-based services such as navigation, communication, and information. IBM will provide its Pervasive Computing software, which is a suite of advanced software for managing the in-vehicle information systems. The software suite includes IBM's VisualAge MicroEdition, which incorporates embedded Java, as well as voice-recognition and text-to-speech functions. This software is used, along with interfaces to the vehicle, to communicate information to the driver and the outside world via the Internet. The companies said Motorola Inc. will also support the venture.
Intel's role will be to provide extended-temperature versions of the Pentium processor as well as in-car computing reference platforms. The extended-temperature Pentiums will be able to withstand a range of -40 C to +85 C degrees ambient -- the range of temperatures in which automobiles operate.
IBM and Intel officials said the partnership won't compete with carmakers or auto suppliers developing technology to create Web-enabled vehicles. In fact, they're potential customers. "Automakers and their suppliers are our partners," said Walt Davison, IBM's marketing executive for the automotive industry. "We're not competing with them; were doing what we do best to help them do what they do best." IBM expects automakers to start offering vehicles with in-car computing systems next year. "The earliest consumers will see vehicles with in-car computing systems on the road will be in 18 months," Desai said.
http://detnews.com/2000/technology/0002/10/02100040.htm
IBM claims: Automotive pervasive computing is a reality -- where people use ViaVoice speech recognition and text-to-speech software to interact with their automobiles the same way that they interact with their computers. IBM is working with automobile manufacturers so that drivers can run diagnostics from the road, search the Internet for a stock price and even make a service appointment with the manufacturer simply by speaking to their e-mail.
In July 2000, IBM announced that engineers and developers can now deploy connected Java language-based solutions across a wider array of embedded targets using IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition tools, class libraries and virtual machines. While VisualAge Micro Edition remains optimized for QNX's Neutrino real-time operating system, IBM has also added support for the iTRON industrial real time operating system and Microsoft Windows CE in response to customer requests.
"Engineering decisions in the connected post-PC world must focus on customer choice. From the start, IBM designed and built VisualAge Micro Edition for portability and compatibility with published specifications," said Skip McGaughey, IBM director of embedded systems sales and marketing. "As our customers have approached us for new CPU, RTOS and development platform support, we have responded quickly, thanks to our investment in innovation and advanced technology."
Pervasive computing projects will require client and server components that run on multiple embedded targets.
Support for the ARM processor architectures is now included in VisualAge Micro Edition. This includes StrongARM SA-110 and SA-1110 processors and development reference boards from Intel.
On 10/16/00, Intel announced plans to collaborate with IBM* to deliver a non-proprietary, standards-based in-car client platform for the expanding Telematics market segment. This collaboration will speed up the delivery of a complete set of Telematics client reference kits supporting the Intel® XScale™ microarchitecture. These kits will enable developers and original equipment manufacturers to reduce their time to market and create leading-edge wireless applications. IBM's popular VisualAge® Micro Edition Java™ application development tools and deployment technologies allow developers to quickly and easily leverage existing applications for e-Business.
Telematics is the market segment that includes cellular voice and Internet services in vehicles. Examples of in-car computing devices and services include navigation systems, emergency roadside assistance, and an array of entertainment applications and services.
Intel's support of IBM's embedded Java application development environment, Java class libraries and the J9 virtual machine for Intel's Xscale microarchitecture reference platforms provides Telematics developers and OEMs with a highly portable and reusable platform. "We are pleased to provide the burgeoning Telematics application development industry and OEMs with what are arguably the strongest wireless building blocks in the industry," said Pat Kerrigan, marketing manager at Intel's In-Car Computing Operation.
"Automotive computing is an important and growing market segment that both Intel and IBM serve with advanced technology and products," said Skip McGaughey, director of marketing and sales for IBM's OTI embedded system group. "With this announcement, IBM takes the important step to broaden VisualAge Micro Edition to embrace Intel's Xscale microarchitecture. www.intel.com/design/wireless/telematics/converge.htm.
On April 11, 2001, Intel Corporation announced that leading in-car computing software platform vendors are delivering support for the Intel StrongARM processor and future processors based on the Intel XScale microarchitecture. Microsoft Corp., IBM, QNX Software Systems Ltd., Wind River Systems, Inc., Fonix Corporation and Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V. are supporting the Intel StrongARM and Intel XScale microarchitectures to enable developers and original equipment manufacturers to reduce "time-to-market" and create sophisticated in-car, voice-enabled wireless applications.
The core software platform recipe for devices in the in-car computing, or telematics, market segment consists of open, scaleable software platforms, extensible and comprehensive development tools and such key complementary technologies -as speech recognition. These combined elements are necessary to deliver adaptable, scaleable telematics devices that will enable and enhance applications and services for the automotive industry. "Our customers asked for each of these solutions by name," said Pat Kerrigan, director for Intel's In-Car Computing Operation. "We feel we have secured industry-wide support from key players to maximize the benefits of the Intel® Personal Internet Client Architecture and to provide our mutual customers with the best telematics development platforms available."
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