The Personal Vehicle Assistant Arrives
September 22, 2000
An emerging category of wireless Internet client devices is designed to make the in-vehicle wireless Internet experience feature-rich and easy to use. It is called the personal vehicle assistant. Similar to its hand-held PDA counterpart, the personal vehicle assistant is a Web-enabled wireless Internet consumer electronic device with the power to make a wide range of Internet services available anywhere, at any time.
For personal vehicle assistant users, these services can include two-way voice communications, e-mail, personalized news, navigation, traffic data and roadside assistance services, in addition to a wide spectrum of personal productivity and entertainment applications. For ergonomics, the personal vehicle assistant will enable hands-free operation with a basic user interface as simple as a car radio.
The personal vehicle assistant makes drive-time more productive:
Navigation applications will take the guesswork out of reaching new destinations, while real-time traffic notification systems will help drivers arrive at their destination sooner.
Personalized information services will keep drivers and passengers up to the minute with the latest news, financial and business data.
A new set of "m-Commerce" applications may be used to reserve hotel rooms, purchase event tickets, make restaurant reservations, or even automatically pay highway and bridge tolls.
Emergency services will be available, such as roadside assistance and automatic collision notification systems. In addition, voice-activated communications will keep drivers in touch, all while the driver keeps his or her eyes on the road.
Entertainment opportunities will enhance the drive-time experience, with MP3 digital audio for drivers and DVD movies for rear seat passengers.
Intel's Role
Intel has made a major commitment to the expansion of the wireless Internet, including technologies and industry investments that support innovative personal vehicle assistant product development. Intel's Wireless Communications and Computing Group is working to develop and enhance the wireless Internet experience for end users.
One way to enhance personal vehicle assistant capabilities is through higher integration and lower total system cost. To meet these goals, Intel has made technology investments in the areas of signal processing, baseband, control and application processing, as well as power and memory management.
Intel is also working to support the industry with investments in leading-edge companies. Many of Intel's industry alliances stem from the establishment of Intel Wireless Competence Centers, which focus on developing partnerships with world leaders in wireless communications. These centers underscore Intel's efforts to help fuel the worldwide cellular and wireless Internet explosion.
This combination of Intel technology, industry investment, and product innovation is providing wireless Internet device manufacturers, content providers and operators with the solutions they need to deliver the next generation of wireless Internet devices, from office to home, and on the road in-between.
Watch this Space — Very soon Intel will announce dramatic advances in telematics, including highly integrated personal vehicle assistant platform solutions. Check back often for the latest announcements.
