It won't be long before automobiles will be able to assist you in safer travel on the roads. IBM demonstrated on Monday how its Telematics software will deliver important data to the car for a more knowledgeable ride.
"We've been locked in our cars, kind of held captive from all the data that flows around us. But now we're unlocking that potential because we're delivering data just as the person needs it in the car," said IBM's Bill Bodin, the pervasive computing director.
The system will be able to retrieve e-mail, download music, give you traffic reports for a safer commute to and from work, and even plan alternate routes to keep you out of a jam.
You'll also be notified about major and minor mechanical vehicle problems to avoid getting stranded in the middle of nowhere. Telematics offers hands-free capability, so you can keep your hands on the wheel.
"We can either use speech as a user interface, or we can use touch as a user interface," Bodin said. "And at all times, basically the speech activation makes it possible for us to keep our eyes on the road."
And while it seems such multitasking may be intimidating for some drivers, it's very user-friendly.
"Anyone in the family can use it. We can even use it to control rear-seat entertainment for kids. We can used wireless technology to distribute data to the back seat, or to anyone that's a passenger in the vehicle," Bodin said.
Researchers say Telematics shouldn't add significant extra costs to a new car, keeping it attainable for the market at large. But overall cost will depend on the desired use of the technology.
On Monday, IBM began an 11-week internship course called Extreme Blue. Students from all over the country will have the opportunity to work on real IBM company projects – including this kind of advanced car technology.
