In the next few years, vehicles will become rolling platforms for Internet access, e-mail, navigation systems, and nationwide satellite radio receivers.

One of the first glimpses of this future was demonstrated by GM at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas on Nov. 1, 1999. There, GM exhibited a new service to its OnStar system to deliver personalized Web-based information, such as news headlines and e-mail that is accessible via a voice prompt by the driver. This capability will be available in GM production vehicles equipped with OnStar later in 2000. A possible future OnStar service will be the ability to download MP3 music files from a home PC via the Internet and to upload them to your vehicle. Also, there are plans to allow a personal digital assistant, such as a Palm Pilot, to access other OnStar services such as unlocking doors or flashing headlights.

On Jan. 5, 2000, Visteon Automotive Systems demonstrated its new ICES (Information, Communication, Entertainment, Safety, and Security) system at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The ICES responds to voice commands and provides drivers with access to the Internet where they can check e-mail, obtain real-time information such as news, or use a turn-by-turn navigation system. The system will be available in summer 2000.

The following week, on Jan. 10, Ford debuted its 24-7 concept car at the Detroit Auto Show. Ford described the 24-7 as rolling Internet portal on wheels. The concept car featured a customized computer-screen dashboard with voice-activated Internet links, e-mail, and a navigation system. In March, Ford established a partnership with Sprint to provide wireless service that will include emergency and roadside assistance in some 2001 Lincoln models. Customers will also be able to access Sprint’s voice-operated wireless Internet system for an additional fee.

In-vehicle wireless technology is available today and judging from initial consumer surveys, so is the demand, which is understandable when you consider that the national average round-trip commute to work has increased to 80 minutes. In a report published by the Seattle Business Wire, 85% of the surveyed drivers were willing to spend up to $10 per month for in-vehicle Internet services to make their commutes more productive. Here are the features drivers said they wanted:

• 94% wanted to receive real-time, location-specific Internet applications in the car.

• 74% wanted turn-by-turn drivingdirections.

• 74% wanted real-time warnings of speed traps.

• 72% wanted live, localized traffic alerts.

• 70% wanted vehicle diagnostic information.

• 61% wanted preventive maintenance schedule reminders and repair cost estimates.

• Only 6% were not interested in any type of wireless Internet services in their vehicles.

Not Everyone Thinks This is a Great Idea

In February, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it plans to expand its review of driver distractions to include in-vehicle Web services and other digital devices. The concern is that next-generation vehicles, featuring dashboard plug-in ports for palm top computers, real-time traffic reports, and voice-activated e-mail, could create a distracting driving environment and endanger drivers.

As of press time, NHTSA was in the early stages of organizing public hearings to address the issue of “digital vehicular driver distractions.” However, Tim Hurd, NHTSA spokesperson, cautions that although these hearings may take place, they won’t necessarily lead to regulations. But others favoring regulation point to early studies indicating that these distractions could be dangerous to drivers. NHTSA estimates that more than 1.7 million crashes that occurred in 1995 involved some form of inattention by the driver. About 143,000 of these collisions alone were the result of distractions in using the audio system.

To minimize driver distractions, automotive engineers are adopting hands-free, voice-activated technology that will allow drivers to receive and respond to e-mail, or listen to directions from satellite navigation systems without taking their hands off the wheel or their eyes off the road. But instead of easing the prospect of regulatory scrutiny, the use of hands-free devices has heightened safety concerns about how much digital interaction a driver can handle before becoming distracted from changing road conditions. A study conducted by the University of Iowa found that drivers listening to voice-synthesized e-mail took 30 percent longer to brake than those who were not. One possible solution was demonstrated at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Conference held in March in Detroit. There, Delphi Automotive System discussed the development of a system that limits driver access to Web-based services at certain times such as whether or not the vehicle is moving, or which would limit the amount of information a driver can receive at one time.

The emerging challenge that fleet managers will face will be how to balance driver safety with new technologies that promise to dramatically enhance driver productivity. I believe a balance will be found. If you think about it, these were the same concerns voiced 60 years ago when a new technology – known as radio – was introduced.

Let me know what you think.