Page 413 - Understanding Automotive Electronics

2735 | CH 11 Page 400 Tuesday, March 10, 1998 1:30 PM

11 FUTURE AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

computer and drive a car. However, a rear-seat installation of a computer,
which is perhaps coupled via modem and the cellular phone to other
computers, is technically feasible now. In one configuration the computer,
answering machine, and facsimile are standard office devices that receive power
through a special adapter via the cigarette lighter.
Integration of the office into the vehicle electronics is also possible. For
example, we have already shown in Chapter 9 that a CRT is available in certain
car models. This CRT can play several roles as a display device. In addition to
its original application, it serves as input/output for heating/cooling and
entertainment systems. It can serve as the display device for an electronic
navigation system. It can also be converted to serve as the monitor for an
automotive computer. Of course, a keyboard assembly is also required along
with the main computer structure as a feature of the office on wheels
automobile.
It can be anticipated that the computer would only be operable when the
transmission selector is in Park. This feature provides assurance that the car is
not actually on the road when in computer mode. A printer could also be
provided for receiving hard copy of the computer output.
The applications of such an automotive built-in computer are many. For
example, a salesman could transmit orders directly from the field to
headquarters. Alternatively, contract modifications could be made and
transmitted to a remote site instantaneously. The extension of these ideas to an
office on wheels is limited only by the ingenuity of the users of such a system.

Voice Recognition Cell Phone Dialing

As beneficial as cellular phone systems are, they do have a potential safety
disadvantage. For most people, dialing a number on a cell phone requires
looking at the key pad while entering the digits. If the car is moving (and
particularly if it is moving in heavy traffic), the momentary distraction of
dialing the phone can potentially divert the driver’s attention and an accident
can occur.
A scheme for dialing the phone without diverting the driver’s attention
from driving involves speech recognition technology. There are already cell
phones available that can accept verbal dialing such that the driver simply
speaks the telephone number to be dialed. When the connection is made the
phone conversation can be completed without the driver having to physically
hold the phone to his or her ear and mouth.
However, the majority of such hands-free cell phones can recognize only
one or two individual’s voices. Normally such a system is trained to recognize
the individual speakers. In the future it is likely that cell phone systems will be
available that can recognize essentially any speaker. Using such systems, phone
conversations can be completed without the driver ever having to divert his or
her attention from the road.

400 UNDERSTANDING AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS