Tomorrow's Car - Showing up in the Showroom Today

MINNETONKA, Minn.--May 2, 20057, 2005--Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. Seeking the latest "bells and whistles" for your new vehicle? Telematics Research Group Inc. (TRG) offers a high-tech hint of the latest technologies on their way to a showroom near you. The good news is that many of these futuristic features have already arrived.

The "automotive digital revolution" constantly spins new navigation, driver-assist, and entertainment technologies for the safety, convenience, and well-being of drivers and their passengers. The latest technologies being brought to the market include:

-- GPS (global position system) - for location awareness and navigation

-- Sensors - e.g., radar, laser, infrared, ultrasound (various safety applications)

-- Cameras - for security and driver aids such as rearview and blind spot assist

-- Displays - screens for instruments, navigation, and digital entertainment

-- Wireless access - cellular, Bluetooth, WiMAX, and satellite

-- Lots of software and operating systems - just like your home computer

-- Mass storage devices - DVD drives, flash drives, and hard disk drives with several gigabytes of memory

-- Dozens of microprocessors (as powerful as several PCs)

-- 24/7 monitoring by a telematics service provider

What would Egil Juliussen, Ph.D., TRG's principal technology analyst, seek if he went car-shopping this weekend? "If I had an unlimited budget, my top priority would be driver-assist systems - lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation, the works - immediately followed by an ultrasound- or camera-equipped backup system. If my budget was limited, I'd make sure to get ESC (electronic stability control). Frankly, if ESC isn't there, that's a show-stopper for me."

Currently, safety and infotainment seem to rank among drivers' top concerns. "Of course, drivers want to be safe; that's a given. But they also want to be entertained," says Scott Lambert, executive vice president of the Minnesota Auto Dealers Association.

"Right now, the latest hot and new technology is navigation; it's not only helpful, it's also entertaining," Lambert notes. "Most of the fun of driving is in the middle of the dashboard. Navigation computers give drivers something to do while they're stuck in traffic. After those, I'd say the next-coolest thing in telematics is rearview cameras."

Juliussen recently presented "Advanced Automotive Technologies" to a panel of automakers and industry analysts in Detroit. From his vantage point, he sees communications as a vital link for both passengers and cars in the future.

"By 2010, your car will be connected via two communications links," explains Juliussen. "The first is personal, for keeping people safe and allowing them to do normal stuff - the same things they'd do at home or work - in their car. The second link is directly to the auto industry, (dealers and OEMs) which wants to build safer cars."

About TRG:

TRG (Telematics Research Group, Inc.) tracks and analyzes the OEM and aftermarket for automotive electronics and telematics. TRG conducts a global telematics survey of wireless, navigation, digital entertainment and driver assist technologies. TRG's research is used as decision support by the automotive and electronics industry.

TRG was established in 2001 and expanded its operation in January 2004 with the formation of TRG Europe, GmbH (Sindelfingen, Germany).