R-34
05-27-2003, 12:33 PM
http://www.motortrend.com/motor/features/news/112_news030417_vcc_l.jpg
Volvo's 'Concept' of Interactive Car
M2 Communications - April 18, 2003
Volvo rolled out its Versatility Concept Car this week at the 2003 New York International Auto Show, providing showgoers with a look at the "interactive" car of the not-so-distant future.
Volvo's Versatility Concept Car (VCC) showcased the power of networking and the ability of machines to communicate with networks. In the VCC, for example, there is no traditional audio unit or DVD player. Instead, the car is continuously connected to the home where music and movies are stored as electronic files. The car connects to the home using W-LAN, 3G or GPRS.
Volvo's VCC moves away from the current trend toward stacking increasing numbers of functions and controls in the center console. In the VCC the only controls on the center console are the climate unit and security functions. All other information is available to the driver in the display module, which features digital instruments of analogue design for speed, revs, engine temperature and fuel quantity.
The digital screen for the instruments provides added flexibility: When the driver wants to use the navigation system, a map is superimposed over the speedometer readout and rev counter. In the same way, the display can create a pop-up window containing information about the music being played in the audio system.
When the car is started, the system confirms that all the car's safety systems are functioning properly by displaying all their icons in the display screen.
The driver controls the various functions via controls grouped around the steering wheel hub, and via conventionally positioned stalks on either side of the steering wheel.
Volvo also provides control to the passengers via wireless displays - or webpads -- with touch-functionality. Using the webpad, passengers can listen to their own music, watch films, browse the Internet, or add a destination to the navigation system. The webpad can also serve as an information carrier between the car, the home and the office.
(C) 2003 10Meters
Volvo's 'Concept' of Interactive Car
M2 Communications - April 18, 2003
Volvo rolled out its Versatility Concept Car this week at the 2003 New York International Auto Show, providing showgoers with a look at the "interactive" car of the not-so-distant future.
Volvo's Versatility Concept Car (VCC) showcased the power of networking and the ability of machines to communicate with networks. In the VCC, for example, there is no traditional audio unit or DVD player. Instead, the car is continuously connected to the home where music and movies are stored as electronic files. The car connects to the home using W-LAN, 3G or GPRS.
Volvo's VCC moves away from the current trend toward stacking increasing numbers of functions and controls in the center console. In the VCC the only controls on the center console are the climate unit and security functions. All other information is available to the driver in the display module, which features digital instruments of analogue design for speed, revs, engine temperature and fuel quantity.
The digital screen for the instruments provides added flexibility: When the driver wants to use the navigation system, a map is superimposed over the speedometer readout and rev counter. In the same way, the display can create a pop-up window containing information about the music being played in the audio system.
When the car is started, the system confirms that all the car's safety systems are functioning properly by displaying all their icons in the display screen.
The driver controls the various functions via controls grouped around the steering wheel hub, and via conventionally positioned stalks on either side of the steering wheel.
Volvo also provides control to the passengers via wireless displays - or webpads -- with touch-functionality. Using the webpad, passengers can listen to their own music, watch films, browse the Internet, or add a destination to the navigation system. The webpad can also serve as an information carrier between the car, the home and the office.
(C) 2003 10Meters