Posts Tagged consumer electronics show
The Future of Driving: High-Tech Cars
Ford made a splash with its announcement of MyFord Touch, described as a “driver connect technology” and the next generation of its current Sync system.The system is scheduled to roll out first this year on the 2011 Lincoln MKK and be added to future new and redesigned Ford and Mercury models.
MyFord Touch will cause “people to fall in love with their vehicles again,” says Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, global product development.
“It’s not just a technology, it’s an experience—one we hope will have people across the globe looking forward to spending time behind the wheel of their vehicle.”
It’s encouraging to see Ford’s commitment to this technology, which was developed with Microsoft on the software side. And remember, Ford was the only U.S. automaker that didn’t need a federal bail-out.
But right in the shadows, literally, of Ford’s booth at CES was a little-known player—Telemetria, with a very interesting product. And I always like David and Goliath stories.
Telemetria, a small company based in San Jose, CA, has already released its DashTop safety and “infotainment” system with a price point around $1,000.
Installed in the center console, the DashTop combines a 7″ color screen and touch interface for broadband Internet access for web browsing and e-mail, GPS navigation, playing music and video, engine monitoring and diagnostics and more. It can even turn the entire car into a Wi-Fi hotspot.
“We can continually add new apps for safety, efficiency, for social networking and for security,” says Allen Nejah, Telemetria’s founder
The system is built on Windows 7, which makes it easy to update and add features, according to Nejah.
The company is still working to refine the system’s voice-recognition capabilities. But after taking a test drive with the unit and meeting some of the company’s employees, I have little doubt they will get that part working as well as it should.
These kind of high-tech gadgets can surely make driving more interesting and more connected. I’m not certain a high-tech car can make it fun to commute through bumper-to-bumper traffic. But it might help find your way around the traffic jams.
Posted by JohnG in Business Gear, General Gear on January 9th, 2010
Live from Las Vegas: International CES is Underway
When it takes more than 30 minutes to get through the taxi line at the Las Vegas airport at 9 o’clock at night, the economy must be picking up.
Indeed, there are few signs of the recession here at the 2010 International CES, the huge Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. There’s much buzz about the latest television-screen technologies—the flattest and biggest screends and 3D—and who’s got the best mobile phones and computer tablets.
I’m here searching for the latest gadgets that will help make life easier on the road. There are promises that our future cars will become smarter and more connected, with more than just GPS. Ford and some established—and a few upstart—companies are making devices with broadband Internet access, media players and collision avoidance, among other things.
I’ll be getting an update on future plans from Aircell, the company behind GoGo Internet access on several major U.S. airlines, and looking at the latest ways to make sure your home is safe while you are away.
There is one very encouraging sign. A lot of the product manufacturers are talking about price points. In other words, they are very conscious of making products affordable to encourage consumers to part with their hard-earned dollars. And in the end, that may be what revives the consumer electronics business and keeps the economic recovery going.
More gadgets at better prices. That sounds like a winner.
Posted by JohnG in Business Gear, General Gear on January 7th, 2010
