IBM promises that in just a year and a half it will release a car computer with a voice interface that will do almost everything - dictating emails orally and sending them while driving, giving directions on the way, information on the traffic situation on the roads and a host of other sophisticated options.
Alex Doron
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For many years we have seen in futuristic movies cars with sophisticated computers that control everything that is done in the car, but until today we have only seen GPS navigation systems, and that too mainly in the cars of the neighbors. Now IBM promises that in just a year and a half it will release a car computer with a voice interface that will do almost everything - dictating emails orally and sending them while driving, giving directions on the road, information on the traffic situation on the roads and a host of other sophisticated options.
All the details about this new development were given at a special exhibition for computer developments related to the automobile industry, which was held about 10 days ago in the town of Hawthorne in the state of New York.
The IBM development team held a demonstration of the capabilities of the new computer for the technology reporters.
One of the engineers greeted the computer in front of the display island with the words, "Good morning, Sally," and informed it that he was on his way to Kennedy Airport to catch a flight to Houston. The computer presented him with a road map, and gave him voice directions regarding the preferred route at that time. He also estimated how long it would take to get to the airport and gave an overview of the state of traffic congestion on the roads, the weather and air traffic at the airport (delayed takeoffs, compliance with the original schedule).
While listening to the radio (by the way, you can also play with the computer "Identify the song"/"Time Mark"), the music stopped and the computer informed the driver that the flight's departure time was half an hour late and that one of the bridges on the way was congested. Later, the computer signaled the arrival of an incoming email, then also read it aloud. Later, the driver also received a recommendation for a nearby Italian restaurant, which should be visited for a "quick pizza".
Sensors will be installed in the car, which will monitor the behavior of the driver and the vehicle while driving. When the computer sees that the driver is losing concentration (approaching a turn at high speed or driving carelessly in rainy conditions), it will simply cut itself off and force the driver to concentrate more on driving.
The needs related to safety, such as for example a warning about a bumpy road or an overtaking truck - will be provided by a tiny camera. With the help of the camera, the computer will also be able to verify that the driver is not dozing off. In such a case, an audible warning signal will be activated immediately to wake up the sleepy driver. This camera will have another and useful use - if there are noisy children in the back seat, the computer will stop trying to listen to the driver, and will use the camera to read his lips.
The Americans will also get what they especially like - real-time updates on their stocks from the stock market, and the Israelis are not deprived either: with the help of a voice command it will be possible to turn on the air conditioner and control the temperature in the car. IBM announced that some of the capabilities that this sophisticated system is supposed to perform are not yet available, but not always Because of the company itself. For example, the service that informs the traffic situation on the roads directly to each vehicle in the area where it is moving, is not yet complete.
"The idea is to give the driver everything he needs," says one of the developers, "he should feel as if he is talking to another person in the car, and can do all these tasks for him."
Some of the technology components of IBM's computer are included in a similar but limited system by General Motors, called OnStar. For example, in the General Motors system, the radio cannot be turned down with a voice command.
Last year, Microsoft launched a dashboard software called "4.2 Windows Automotive", designed to expand the capabilities of using a cell phone in the car to allow receiving and sending of e-mail. 8 American car manufacturers intend to add additional navigation, safety and entertainment options to this basic software.
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