Another post from Wired's Autopia blog. This time about putting Internet into the car as the next step in driver interface:
BMW's iDrive has taken it on the nose from
critics and customers alike.
But give the luxury brand credit for recognizing that the goo-gaws and gizmos car makers keep adding to their vehicles are making the driver interface impossibly confusing. Designers can barely find enough space within reach of the driver to stash all the new buttons and control knobs that make high-priced cars sell.
Trouble is, BMW is using its streamlined iDrive to add even more driver distraction. iDrive will soon incorporate full onboard Internet access, allowing drivers to copy maps and other information directly to their navigation systems. It will work through an EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) mobile connection, currently the fastest universal mobile connection available.
Drivers will surf the Web with a small joystick mouse. Maps and driving directions can be transferred to the navigation system with the press of a button. For safety reasons, drivers can only surf when the car is traveling at speeds of less than 3 mph.
Read in full - '
BMW Adds Full Internet Access to Its iDrive'
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