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VW and Google Team Up for Astonishing New Navigation System

Google and nVidia Give VW Nav a Whole New Perspective

Navigation systems are hot commodities in todays automotive market. Whether aftermarket or OEM, theyre an example of future-think technology available right now; something that people could only dream of ten years ago. As costly as nav systems are, theyve completely changed the face of driving, often taking much of the stress and hazard out of a journey to an unfamiliar place. No longer is a road map or a print-out of a route plan necessary, or even your memory to effectively get you where youre going; all thats needed is enter in your destination and follow the
Just imagine seeing this on the way into town every day... (Photo: Volkswagen of America)
soothing voice and clever graphics of the nav system.

Have you ever wished your navigation system did more? Automakers are taking this into account, constantly upping the ante with each new model: the switch from CD to DVD has reduced load times as well as the number of discs needed to cover the entire country dramatically, and the quality of screens
Acura was the first in line to provide real-live communication for traffic jam avoidance. (Photo: Acura)
and user interfaces have also improved, allowing companies like Nissan to offer a birds eye view of your route and Audi the ability to enter in data while on the move. Some systems are particularly advanced, such as the NAVTEQ (XM Satellite) system in the U.S.-market Acura RL, which uses live technology to alert you when theres traffic blockages, and instantly re-route you around a jam saving you time and quite possibly your sanity. If you like the
Volkswagen Passat: a good car, in need of a good navigation system. Hopefully, Google can help deliver. (Photo: Volkswagen of America)
sound of this, then Volkswagens next-generation navigation system should be an absolute treat.

Chances are, sometime between reading this article and the first time you started using the internet, youve heard of, or utilized the services of Google. What started out as a web search engine operated by a bunch of university students has turned into a multi-billion dollar corporate empire, which has branched out to different, although complementary market verticals significantly. Googles biggest foray, aside from its blitzkrieg on
Touchscreen interface is similar to what?? already out on the market. (Photo: Volkswagen of America)
NASDAQ, was to create an interactive map of the entire world using photos taken by satellites. They called it Google Earth (http://earth.google.com), and its a very entertaining way of passing a few hours, exploring the surface of our green and blue planet. Aside from being a marvel of human progress, it still has yet to prove any viable use... that is, until Google crossed paths with Volkswagen.

At this years Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Volkswagen and Google presented the first prototype of their brainchild, a completely different kind of navigation system packed with unheard of new features. The system is so advanced that its been touted by
Is it the latest Sim City? No, thats the nav screen on VW-Googles new system. (Photo: Volkswagen of America)
the media as the closest thing to a "virtual reality travel information" system. On the surface, the new development works and functions like a touch-screen navigation system. You enter in data through the on-screen keyboard, while the interface also controls the stereo, and other functions, like most modern all-in-one media centers. Of course, not to be outdone by whats currently on the market, the system provides a live feed of information about the traffic, and the weather.
But heres where things get more interesting. Volkswagen and Google have figured out a way of getting the Google Earth data onto the in-car navigation screen in a photorealistic 3D manner. Techno-garble aside, this means that what you see out the windows of your car - the
Nissans Birdview has nothing on VW-Google... (Photo: Nissan North America)
horizon, the buildings and landscape surrounding you - is displayed accordingly in 3D graphics, from any angle, all thanks to a new kind of graphics card developed by nVidia. Not only is the idea of being able to see around you extremely cool, but the real advantage is that it gives drivers and passengers inside the car a better sense of orientation and direction.

If providing realistic graphics werent enough, the system has "open end" capabilities which link it to Googles internet search engine through the same on-board telematics that control the navigation system. "Open end" allows the navigation system to provide drivers with valuable data to help plan routes and trips, with the means not only to display road-side rest stops, hotels, shopping centers and tourists guides, but their hours of operations and any specials or events they may be promoting. The system
Nissan?E(tm)s Murano is one of the many cars that have the Birdeye navigation system. (Photo: Nissan North America)
even has the capability to show the price of fuel at gas stations and the times of movies at theaters, all in real time and on demand. Also, because the system constantly updates itself, unlike a DVD or a CD, youll never be out of luck when new roads are built or old roads are closed.

Though Volkswagen and Google insist that the new navigation system is just a demonstration, and that the two brands are still developing it, chances are itll come to market, mind you, it wont be for some time. Everything about the system, from the type of data it uses to the information itself, to the system used to transmit it, to the graphics, are simply beyond the capabilities of todays technology, but the two firms are hard at work developing the goods to make this dream a reality. As far as in-car navigation goes, theres plenty to look forward to with VW-Googles navigation system, for road journeymen (and journeywomen), tech-savvy car fans, and everyday people alike.
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