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docdivakar
@prabhakar_deosthali: I am glad to hear that Indian IT companies are providing ...
phoenixdave
I agree with @selinz, there are appropriate uses for the technology, such as ...
In-vehicle Internet grows slow and steady
Rick DeMeis
9/2/2010 2:57 PM EDT
A recent report I received from IMS Research forecasts that vehicles with Internet access will increase from 1.1 million worldwide last year to 6 million in 2017, which would total only 6% of new vehicles.
But such numbers actually represent an increase in the "take rate" for the technology due in part to wider availability and greater improvements and expectations from cellular technology, says “The World Market for OE In-Vehicle Telematics” report author Jon Cropley. Expectations are being fueled by, "the growing popularity of downloadable apps," he notes. Their popularity has caused automotive OEMs to consider the viability of applications for use in the vehicle. Apps already developed include destination weather reports and "reading" emails aloud while driving. The report forecasts that the in-vehicle apps market will be worth more than $4 billion in 2017.
Cellular technology advances making Net access more viable are the greater data transfer rates possible with 3G technology. (Japan was one of the first countries to have wide availability of 3G; and was estimated to have the most vehicles with Internet access in 2009.) Deployment of 4G technology will make in-vehicle Internet access even faster and enable newer services.
IMS Research also notes in-vehicle Internet is not without drawbacks, namely the potential for driver distraction. This could be remedied easily by not allowing a connection and other features while the vehicle is in motion, or only giving passengers and not the driver access when underway.
I personally have driven Ford commercial vehicles (vans and pickup trucks) equipped with its Ford Work Solutions™ system, which is geared for construction trades and delivery services. The system denies a connection when the vehicle is in motion. Work Solutions features include an in-dash computer (with a Bluetooth-linked keyboard) for high-speed Internet access; wireless mouse and printer; and Crew ChiefTM, a fleet telematics and diagnostics tool. There is even an RFID option that keeps track of tagged equipment in the vehicle.
IMS adds many vehicle manufacturers have conducted their own research showing that in-vehicle Internet would be "very popular," leading many customers to purchase a vehicle so equipped. Any systems will have to provide features and convenience without degrading safety.
But such numbers actually represent an increase in the "take rate" for the technology due in part to wider availability and greater improvements and expectations from cellular technology, says “The World Market for OE In-Vehicle Telematics” report author Jon Cropley. Expectations are being fueled by, "the growing popularity of downloadable apps," he notes. Their popularity has caused automotive OEMs to consider the viability of applications for use in the vehicle. Apps already developed include destination weather reports and "reading" emails aloud while driving. The report forecasts that the in-vehicle apps market will be worth more than $4 billion in 2017.
Cellular technology advances making Net access more viable are the greater data transfer rates possible with 3G technology. (Japan was one of the first countries to have wide availability of 3G; and was estimated to have the most vehicles with Internet access in 2009.) Deployment of 4G technology will make in-vehicle Internet access even faster and enable newer services.
IMS Research also notes in-vehicle Internet is not without drawbacks, namely the potential for driver distraction. This could be remedied easily by not allowing a connection and other features while the vehicle is in motion, or only giving passengers and not the driver access when underway.
I personally have driven Ford commercial vehicles (vans and pickup trucks) equipped with its Ford Work Solutions™ system, which is geared for construction trades and delivery services. The system denies a connection when the vehicle is in motion. Work Solutions features include an in-dash computer (with a Bluetooth-linked keyboard) for high-speed Internet access; wireless mouse and printer; and Crew ChiefTM, a fleet telematics and diagnostics tool. There is even an RFID option that keeps track of tagged equipment in the vehicle.
IMS adds many vehicle manufacturers have conducted their own research showing that in-vehicle Internet would be "very popular," leading many customers to purchase a vehicle so equipped. Any systems will have to provide features and convenience without degrading safety.
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ylshih
9/2/2010 4:13 PM EDT
It seems that in-vehicle internet would make sense for users who work or spend most of the day in their vehicle. For many other users, presence in a vehicle is only a small fraction of their day and 3G/4G internet connectivity would have to migrate to the personal device (PDA, netbook, tablet, music/video player, etc) to meet their connectivity needs. Consequently, "6% of new vehicles" might represent a large portion of the addressable market.
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Duane Benson
9/2/2010 6:52 PM EDT
I'd say that the addressable market for in-vehicle Internet includes anyone that listens to a radio, uses a GPS, is interested in weather, wants to know about traffic, would like to update friends & family as to their estimated arrival time and a host of other applications.
All of those applications could be designed to operate with no more distraction than does a current-day GPS map. Some of them could be set prior to departure and then during the drive could operate autonomously or in a manner similar to warning indicators.
I'm betting that the 6% figure is pretty conservative.
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LarryM99
9/2/2010 10:34 PM EDT
The tricky part is how access is gained. It always made the most sense to me to have it access via my cell data plan. That assumes, of course, that the cell providers are a lot less pigheaded about so-called tethering plans than they have been so far. I suspect that they will loosen up as 4G rolls out and will allow cars to access via Bluetooth networking profiles.
Larry M.
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prabhakar_deosthali
9/3/2010 1:52 AM EDT
In vehicle internet access will be really useful for those traveling to work by public transport ( buses/taxis/trains. Most of these people spend almost 3 to 4 hours on every working day , commuting. By providing internet access , this time can be spent meaningfully by either doing the office work or for entertainment. Some IT companies in India have already started such concept in their bus services thus increasing the productivity of their work force.
Providing internet connectivity to the drivers however can create another cause for accidents!
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Mark Wehrmeister
9/3/2010 9:03 PM EDT
In-vehicle Internet access already exists today using a MIFI device from one of the cellular companies. At the size of a thick credit card, all you have to do is place it somewhere in the vehicle and all he occupants can access the Internet using any WIFI enabled device. Sure it is not an embedded application built into the vehicle electronics, but that also makes it significantly less expensive and it has the benefit of being able to be moved from vehicle to vehicle.
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Silicon_Smith
9/4/2010 1:30 PM EDT
I feel the idea is a little exaggerated in its application and usefulness. If the driver of a vehicle needs access to internet when he is not moving, why would he want an extra connection when we all have internet enabled mobile devices in our pockets with GPS and many other apps. The time spent inside stationary vehicles is a very small fraction of our daily routine. I think it makes sense for commercial vehicle to have Hi Speed Internet connectivity and to have particular apps/ Hw with it to make operations easy. Industries like commercial transport/shipping, Heavy machines, construction machines etc.
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WKetel
9/8/2010 11:00 AM EDT
This is an interesting chance to distract a driver even more than with texting. So while it is something that can be done, would it benefit anybody besides those who make money from it? How about thinking ahead and looking at some of the logical but unintended outcomes of providing this technology.
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Nic_Mokhoff
9/8/2010 11:41 AM EDT
From Rick's story, the following "The system denies a connection when the vehicle is in motion," should be the mantra for any Internet connection from a moving vehicle where the driver is responsible for many lives in their own car and possibly in others. The benefits of Google-ing on-the go in moving vehicles does not outweigh the safety concerns. Maybe there is a way to limit the Internet in the car to just the transportation info one absolutely can't be without.
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tb1
9/27/2010 3:27 PM EDT
What's the most dangerous part of skydiving? Driving to the plane and back. We drive so much that after a while we forget about just how dangerous driving is and start letting our focus and attention drift. Even worse, we think we can mutlitask while barrelling down the road at 60-80mph.
We need fewer things in our car that take our eyes and attention off the road, not more. GPS and traffic alerts directly relate to driving. Anything else should be shut off or out of the driver's access.
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selinz
10/1/2010 9:26 PM EDT
Please take away someone elses freedom! My family of 6 recently decided to take a road trip that was 28 hours straight. This was tolerable not only because of our comfy T&C van but also because everyone had a cell based interconnection and a laptop and movies to share. Of course, the driver drove (We had five licensed drivers on board and everyone took a turn). But he/she could also listen to whatever show happened to be on, or listen to the news, or whatever... I was travelling with one of our sales guys and I was operating his navigation system to respond to a customer call. It simply would not accept any input while moving. What a pain in the %$$. I often find myself driving late at night after a long day at work and am grateful for devices that can keep my interest (audio books from the local library are my preferred method of stimulation). But if the media was available over the radio or via cell or whatever, that would be fine too. I say get rid of bad drivers, not devices.
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phoenixdave
10/1/2010 11:29 PM EDT
I agree with @selinz, there are appropriate uses for the technology, such as there are uses for he current mobile DVD players. I believe that some controls may be necessary (similar to those requiring a portable video screen to be mounted so it's not visible to the driver), but at some point common sense has to prevail. Internet access has come to the airline industry, and its availability is very welcome for many business travelers. Availability within the car is just a natural progression.
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docdivakar
10/4/2010 3:50 PM EDT
@prabhakar_deosthali: I am glad to hear that Indian IT companies are providing internet access to employees in buses. UC Berkeley has been doing this for some time now, people going to Lawerence Berkeley Lab from campus locations can tap into campus Wifi for internet access.
Commuting perhaps represents a good use case for people wanting to do their office work. I am already imagining a series of repeaters in the transbay tube to keep the interconnections going while I commute in BART trains!
@Silicon_Smith: the uses cases for in-vehicle internet, or better yet, vehicle to infrastructure, vehicle to vehicle (moving mesh?)use cases is some what described in the document:
http://www.car-to-car.org/fileadmin/downloads/C2C-CC_manifesto_v1.1.pdf
The doc lists entertainment, hazard warnings, weather, traffic conditions, etc., as primary features of such a system. The system requirements are largely being driven by the various use cases.
Dr. MP Divakar
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