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Pioneer Releases Its Voice-Activated Route Guidance Navigation System

23 December 1999

Pioneer Releases Its Long-Awaited Voice-Activated Route Guidance Navigation System; Enhancing the Driving Experience of Today's Consumers

    LONG BEACH, Calif.--Dec. 22, 1999--Pioneer Electronics, Japan's leader in car navigation, released its AVIC-505 voice-activated route guidance navigation system to select dealers.
    The much-anticipated navigation system will begin delivery to select dealers in December, and features a robust operating system, including full voice recognition capability. "This product will offer consumers the safest operation of any navigation product on the market. It's our continued commitment to release the most innovative, advanced products in the marketplace," said Russ Johnston, vice president, car electronics marketing.
    Distribution will be limited to select Pioneer and Premier dealers at first, with a full release to all dealers scheduled for spring of 2000.
    The AVIC-505 offers the consumer "full route guidance" with a user interface focused on easy operation that is enhanced with voice control.
    Pioneer's new AVIC-505 navigation system concentrates on providing the consumer a very easy-to-use interface design that is built around a logical flow, requiring less manual input. The system focuses on an audible operation, so that the consumer's eyes stay safely on the road ahead. A built-in speaker independent voice recognition offers easy verbal input as an alternative to manual menu input of a desired destination, routing operations, as well as comprehensive point of interest search.
    "The AVIC-505 is such an easy navigation product to operate, because we take advantage of features such as voice interface, voice prompting and simplified menus. Not only is this a user-friendly system but it gives consumers an immense amount of information," added Johnston.
    The AVIC-505 utilizes CD-ROM technology to access the map database, and, for pinpoint accuracy, a three-point system consisting of a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver, speed pulse sensor and gyro. The GPS receiver is used for its absolute positioning capability. The speed pulse is attained from the vehicle to monitor the distance traveled, while the gyro points out the automobile's relative turning direction. Together these three technologies will constantly monitor the vehicle's position through "map matching" calculations to accurately place the vehicle on the map database.
    Additionally, the AVIC-505 will be the first navigation system to use a new database format called SDAL, from Navigation Technologies. Shared Data Access Library (SDAL) is a universal disc format, which contains all the detailed city road networks, road graphic attributes and points of interest with more than 40 categories and will be highly accessible for consumers.
    The SDAL concept provides the consumer with a map disc that is compatible between multiple manufacturers' hardware and focuses on reducing time-to-market map database updates. "With SDAL, Navigation Technologies has taken the leadership role this category needs to resolve the interoperability issue that has hampered its growth," said Johnston. "SDAL will most likely be the compatibility cornerstone on which this industry will be built. It provides solutions for interchangeability, forward compatibility and speed-to-market, so that we can focus on our core business -- making and selling the electronics hardware systems."
    The initial launch will include three Data Coverage Areas (DCAs) -- DCA 1 (West Coast -- California, Nevada and Arizona), DCA 2 (North Western and Rocky Mountain states to include Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana), and DCA 9 (Florida, Georgia, Alabama and North and South Carolina). The release of additional DCAs is scheduled throughout calendar year 2000.
    Voice interface allows the user to select Points of Interests (POIs), preset destinations, rerouting and enter a user password via voice. A push of a button on the remote and a voice command from the user activates the unit. The voice prompting capability further assists the user with voice instruction, so drivers avoid taking their eyes off the road.
    With a friendly, soothing voice, the AVIC-505 announces its turn-by-turn direction until it arrives to its final destination. Simplified menus, such as POIs and entering destination information, makes it easy for users to enter all destination information, getting them on their way quickly. The menu system is made even simpler to use by displaying the most commonly used items on top.
    Further assisting the user, the unit allows for three different screen views of the route guidance modes: map view, arrow view and split screen view. The map view illustrates the map and the vehicle's position on the screen in real time. The arrow view provides directions indicated with large arrows for easy viewing. Unlike other navigation systems showing ninety-degree left and right arrow "icons," the arrow view on the AVIC-505 will indicate the precise degree of the turn by depicting the actual road geometry.
    To add further confidence to the user, the system will show them negotiating the turn by placing a vehicle icon on top of the "arrow" or intended track and showing them driving through the turn. The split screen mode allows simultaneous map and arrow views to be displayed side by side. All screen views are then enhanced by voice prompting, for utmost convenience.
    Other useful features include:


--   Automatic reroute: automatically reroutes user to destination
     when the initial route is not followed.

--   Areas to be avoided: avoids certain roads when calculating a
     route, within 1/10 to a five-mile radius, i.e., an extended road
     construction or congested area can be entered so as to always
     avoid them in the route planning.

--   Built-in flash memory: for future upgrade capability. Adding more
     features or simply updating the system can be easily done via a
     CD-ROM download without having to change the whole unit.


    Pioneer recommends an authorized dealer for installation of the AVIC-505, due to the precise nature of the system -- the connection to the vehicle's electrical system to obtain the digital speed pulse. For older cars without a vehicle speed pulse circuit, an add-on sensor can be used. The ND-PG1 can be installed close to the tire to monitor the rotation of steel belted tires and also comes with a polarization "wand" used to magnetize the steel belts.
    The AVIC-505 will come with the navigation main unit, which includes the GPS receiver, the speed pulse sensor, the gyro and the voice recognition system. The system is compatible with either the AVD-505, a console dash-mounted 5.6-inch TFT active matrix LCD color screen, or the AVX-7000, a 7-inch diagonal, in-dash motorized color screen that can be retracted when not in use. Pioneer's AVIC-505 route guidance navigation system will greatly enhance the driving experience by cultivating today's consumer lifestyle.

    Pioneer Navigation system:


                                            Estimated
       Pioneer Navigation                 Market Price   Availability   

AVIC-505 (mobile navigation system)           $1200        Current
AVD-505  (5.6" surface mount color monitor)   $ 650        Current
AVX-7000 (7" in-dash motorized color monitor) $1100        Current
ND-PG1 (add on speed pulse generator)         $ 250        Current
Map (DCA)                                     $ 150      DCA 1,2, & 9


    Minimum system price: $1850 plus map ($150 each).
    Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc., with headquarters in Long Beach, is a leader in optical disc technology and a preeminent manufacturer of audio and video products for the home and car.