Electronic Industry Leaders from IDB Forum, 1394 Trade Association, Lead Multimedia-in-Vehicle Demo at Convergence 2000 in Detroit
16 October 2000
Electronic Industry Leaders from IDB Forum, 1394 Trade Association, Lead Multimedia-in-Vehicle Demo at Convergence 2000 in Detroit
DETROIT--Oct. 16, 2000--Leaders of hardware and software technology have joined forces to present the first demonstration of networked consumer electronics products working together in a vehicle at the Convergence 2000 show. Oct. 16-18. The exhibit is at Booth 1069.
The IDB (Intelligent Data Bus) Forum and the 1394 Trade Association, led by organization members including Motorola, Molex, Panasonic, Sumitomo, Fujitsu, Tyco and others, are bringing digital media to the vehicle. The demonstration shows how a driver or passenger can use CDs, PDAs, digital video disks and cell phones linked together in cars, trucks, and SUVs. Messages and content are moved to displays, seats and speakers using a set of interface modules, hardware and software that enable connection of these consumer products. The host for this initial demonstration is the new VISION(TM) from Mack Trucks.
For this initial demonstration, Digital Harmony, Inc. has provided 1394-based interface modules called DHIVA(TM) which enable standards-based control and streaming of media formats such as MP3, CD and DVD in vehicles. Rand McNally Inc. created all of the PDA hardware and custom software required to show that an IDB-equipped vehicle can take advantage of information stored in handheld devices such as the PALM(TM) Vx. Motorola provided cellular telephone technology for the truck, while Panasonic offered its CD changer. Sumitomo Electric supplied metallic-to-plastic optical fiber (POF) cable repeaters that convert signals between twisted pair cable and POF for IDB-1394 applications. Fujitsu provided an IBD-C compliant minidisc head unit, a complete audio system integrated to work with the phone, PDA and IDB-1394 CD changer. Cables and connectors came from Molex and Tyco.
The Convergence 2000 vehicle multimedia exhibit
Arlan Stehney, director of the IDB Forum, called the Mack Truck exhibit a breakthrough in multimedia technology enabled by an impressive group of hardware and software leaders.