The newest hi-tech buzzword in automotive electronics today is "Telematics." According to Motorola, the company who coined the term, it is "an emerging automotive communications technology that combines wireless voice and data to provide location-specific security, information, productivity and in-vehicle entertainment services to drivers and their passengers." In other words, what telematics is attempting to do is to bring together a number of different technologies and combine them into one easy-to-use platform that is customizable to each individual driver. The basic idea is to have some type of in-dash unit that combines the functions of a web radio, email, ecommerce, cell phone, global positioning satellite navigation system and driver assistance program into one. TELEMATICS: THE CONNECTED CAR As it stands now, telematics could provide all of the following: * Safety & Security. This includes such services as roadside assistance, emergency service, automatic accident reporting (when the air bags deploy), vehicle recovery (in case your vehicle is stolen), remote release of door locks (should you lock yourself out of your car), or a live contact should you need anything while driving. * Navigation & Traffic Information. Using server based real-time assistance, telematics can help drivers find locations, avoid traffic congestion, accidents, construction, etc. Unlike older CD navigation systems that need to be periodically updated and may only cover a limited area, downloading navigation info as directions or help is needed means the information can be current. With GPS, you and your car know exactly where you are. * Entertainment & Personal Information. Telematics can bring you the news, weather, sports, stock quotes, email (more likely voice mail to help you keep your eyes on the road), remind you of scheduled appointments or other events you have on your personal calendar, maybe even help you shuffle your schedule as you drive to work. * Remote Service Functions. Included here would be diagnosing and reporting vehicle drivability and emission problems back to the car dealer or other service facility, monitoring the need for scheduled maintenance (oil changes, filters, etc.), and possibly even providing "live" reprogramming of engine computer functions if updates are needed. V2V allows cars to talk to each other and to monitor relative positions and direction of travel. * Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications. The federal government wants cars to talk to each other to reduce accidents. Communication between vehicles allows vehicles to "see" other. This situational awareness means the automatic braking system may be activated if the driver fails to see an approaching vehicle at an intersection. It also means that smart cruise control systems can space vehicles closer together when traveling on highways to reduce congestion. The cruise control system can also sense a problem ahead if a lead vehicle starts to brake, giving it time to slow the vehicle and avoid a rear-end collision. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is considering a rule that would require V2V on future vehicles. TELEMATICS and VEHICLE COMMUNICATIONS Virtually every vehicle today has a radio and CD player, and many luxury vehicles are equipped with video screens, navigation systems, hands-free, built-in cell phones and driver assistance "HELP" buttons like General Motor's OnStar, Ford's RESCU, Mercedes' Tele Aid, etc. But currently, most of these are separate functions controlled by separate devices. As time goes on, more and more communications and infotainment within the vehicle will be integrated into single systems. Some luxury vehicles already offer such with touch screen displays that control numerous functions. On newer vehicles, these systems will even sync with your smart phone so you can play music, read email and text messages, make calls and surf the internet. Radio is evolving, too. The way it is now, you can choose any AM, FM or satellite station you want to listen to, but you can't tell the DJ what to play or to cut the chatter. You're a passive listener, and there's no way to mute out those annoying commercials that saturate the AM and FM airwaves during peak drive times. Even satellite radio is becoming more commercial. The next step in telematics may be the airwave equivalent of Netflix, some type of "eradio" that plays what you want on demand (for a fee, of course). More likely, there will be a shift to streaming radio over an internet connection in your vehicle. For more info on what's happening in the world of Telematics Click Here for information about Telematics and the Connected Car. TELEMATICS and DRIVING ASSISTANCE Today's real time navigation systems can provide current traffic and road construction information (as well as alternate route suggestions to avoid you avoid traffic jams. With V2V communications, onboard navigation systems get smarter and can detect traffic congestion ahead or on side roads, giving you warnign of impending traffic jams or less congested alternate routes. Telematics can interact with smart stop lights and recognize stop signs to automatically brake your car. HOW TELEMATICS MAY IMPACT ECOMMERCE Another possible use for telematics is to open up communication between a vehicle as it is traveling along and nearby businesses. For example, let's say you're driving down the road and your stomach tells you it's time for a Big Mac. You tell your onboard telematics unit that you want the nearest McDonalds. You instantly get directions to the nearest McDonalds — and may even be able to preview the menu or preorder your Big Mac so is it is waiting and ready when you pull up to the drive-thru lane. Or say you're driving down the street and a local fast food restaurant wants to entice you with a special offer. When you're in range, they might flash your telematics unit with a message inviting you to stop by for a special $3.99 meal. When you pull into the establishment, their transponder recognizes your vehicle, has your meal waiting and gives you the special discount for responding to their offer. TELEMATICS CUSTOMIZABLE TO THE DRIVER People want a pleasant driving experience when they are behind the wheel, so some vehicle makers are offering systems that can be customized to individual preferences. Like customizing your smart phone icons, you can modify or change the layout or appearance of the controls on your instrument panel or touch screen. What if the same vehicle is used by different drivers (such as you, your spouse and any teenage drivers that might be in your family)? Then you have a special onboard profile for each driver just as many vehicles now have memory settings for power seats and mirrors and pedal positions. When you enter your vehicle, your smart key fob communicates with your car and tells it how you want it set up. It might even turn on your favorite radio station and have the car pre-warmed or pre-cooled with the remote start system. Today's telematics allow you to sync your vehicle with your smart phone. BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY "Blue Tooth" is a standard for using wireless radio waves to send data short distances from one device to another (say from your cell phone to the onboard telematics system in your vehicle). It's essentially the same technology that is used in many states for electronically collecting road tolls from motorists. A bluetooth onboard transponder can also be used to monitor real time traffic conditions with roadside sensors. The vehicle becomes a mobile for the traffic management systems. This could allow traffic lights to change when a vehicle approaches an intersection to save time and fuel. TELEMATICS PRIVACY ISSUES Privacy advocates don't like the idea of being monitored while their are driving. But guess what? You're already being monitored if your vehicle has a GPS navigation system, OnStar or an electronic toll road transponder. The police in many large cities also have automatic license plate scanners that can read vehicle license plates as they pass by to check for outstanding tickets or warrants or stolen vehicles. So like it or not, Big Brother is keeping an eye on you while you are driving, and it is only going to become more invasive. Some insurance companies have a monitoring device that you plug into your OBD II connector under the dash. The devise tracks vehicle speed and braking and reports the results back to the insurance company to monitor your driving behaviors. Good drivers (those who don't speed, do jack rabbit starts or slam on their brakes) are rewarded with insurance discounts while not so good drivers pay higher rates. With more fuel efficient hybrid and electric vehicles on the road, governments are worried they may experience a drop in gasoline tax revenue. Several states are considering taxing drivers based on chilometri driven, how fast they drive, or even where they drive to boost revenues. This would likely require some kind of telematic monitoring and reporting system that would be installed in your vehicle much like a toll road transponder. One benefit of vehicle monitoring and tracking is that it can make life more difficult for car thieves. OnStar can remotely slow or disable a vehicle if it has been reported stolen. It can also locate the vehicle using the built-in GPS system. Auto finance companies would love the ability to track the whereabouts of a vehicle so they could repossess it if the motorist failed to make their payments on time. Most over-the-road heavy-duty trucks have GPS transponders that track their speed and movements. This information helps dispatchers track shipments as well as driver behavior (or misbehavior). Conceivably, we could even be issued tickets electronically for speeding, failing to obey traffic signals, emitting too much pollution or even illegal parking via telematics. The companies that install red light camera and speed camera wouldn't like this, but municipal governme…

Fonte: AA1Car.com