Posted on 10/31/2001 11:16:21 PM PST by green team 1999
Surf the Web While Cruising the Road
E-Cruze Concept Car Offers E-mail, Video Conferencing and More
By Tech Live staff
Oct. 31 — General Motors has unveiled a new wired concept car the company is touting as the ultimate mobile office.
On display at the Tokyo Motor show, which will be open to the public through November 7, the GM E-Cruze offers drivers navigation support, email, Web browsing, two-way videoconferencing, movies on demand, and more — all with hands-free operation.
Based on the Cruze, a subcompact car that is a joint venture between GM and Subaru, the E-Cruze includes three identical yet independent systems of video screens located in the front console, driver headrest, and front passenger headrest.
"When the vehicle is out of park and in motion, the driver will have access to the navigation services," said GM E-Cruze Project Manager Gregory Crandall. "The two rear passengers will have access to all of the services such as email, Internet, television, and movies."
The system offers up to 20 video channels, as well as digital radio stations. However, in order to enjoy video on demand on the dashboard's touch screen, the driver must first pull over.
You've Got Video-Mail
According to Crandall, the E-Cruze's email system can handle more than just simple text messages.
"We have two cameras, one for the front passenger, and one for the driver, and in the center of that we have one microphone which will record your voice and send off an email or download it," Crandall said.
The system also allows the driver and passengers to update their PDAs with an infrared link.
GM has not yet said when it plans to put the E-Cruze into production for the mass market.
for information and discusion only,not for profit etc,etc.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.