Robust hard disk drives enable the new digital automobile

What's the next frontier in the expanding universe of digital content? Without a doubt, it is the automobile—with this demand for content helping fuel the explosive growth in automotive electronics components embedded in today's cars.

Taking the digital experience on the road
While GPS-based navigation, satellite radio, digital music, and rear-seat video playback are the "early-adopter" digital applications in the car, today's aftermarket and dealer options are still largely modular in design and feature separate components to deliver each type of functionality. However, moving forward will require more flexible, multi-function platforms using shared processor and component architectures to provide high-capacity, digital storage-based media and information access services.

These systems will include more powerful processors and cost-effective, high-capacity storage serving an array of capabilities aggregated behind a common user interface engineered to be safe, convenient, up-dateable, and easy for the driver and passengers to operate.

Coupling high-capacity "media" systems, along with satellite and wireless network services, is allowing auto makers and aftermarket suppliers to enhance navigation, information, and entertainment capabilities. Imagine the possibilities when satellite and radio-based information and content services can support real-time information retrieval, access to online games, and on-demand or time-shifted entertainment content using digital recording and playback functionality. Such services will redefine rear-seat entertainment and create an array of capabilities that appeal not only to kids but to rear-seat riders of all ages.

With the proper technology foundation, the car is poised to become an extension of the "digital living room" concept promoted by Microsoft, Apple, Sony and others. Imagine a car that is "smart" enough to access the home media center and preload the latest cartoon shows or educational games the family just purchased. Consider the possibilities of using a telematics service portal to order online content and localized information to keep the kids happy in the back seat on a long drive to Grandma's house. Or, think about a media service that knows your route and uploads or streams an interactive "points of interest" experience for young passengers.

In addition, consider that it is now possible to connect the car to the same satellite TV broadcast services used in the home, allowing consumers to view or record this content while on the go in the car. These varied entertainment and information options are possible with storage-based systems that have enough capacity to house content libraries and run the types of digital entertainment applications that are now being deployed in online and home media and game systems.

Digital storage is critical
The area of in-car information is particularly interesting. High-capacity storage will enable more sophisticated GPS navigation that offers richer points of interest data, interactive content to keep back seat passengers entertained on long trips, and enhanced maps of road segments or points of interest with search functionality (i.e., locating the nearest gas station, restroom, ATM, or Starbucks). Navigation will become more aware about "what's around me" instead of just guidance to the destination. Such sophisticated GPS systems with value-added services are emerging in Japan and parts of Europe, and enhanced database information is starting to be available from navigation content providers for North America.

Another emerging opportunity for car-based information is recording vehicle telemetric data such as engine temperature and other system parameters. Capturing this information will assist in problem diagnostics and support predictive failure capabilities. These features can help to more fully capture a broader time span of operating data, so that intermittent events can be more easily diagnosed and fixed the first time.

Such technology can build buyer loyalty and enforce best quality control practices. Another capability (not without controversy due to privacy issues) being discussed by the automotive industry is recording vehicle video inputs, which can help determine the events leading to traffic mishaps and establish a basis for improvements to reduce the incident of future mishaps.