Squidward

does anyone here have any plans on net-wiring their car or has already done it? I'm in the process of laying out a plan for my RX-8.

My primary goal is to create a simple to use menu on the LCD that can be controlled by the NAV cursor pod that will provide the following options:

1. Traffic Conditions, Los Angeles
2. Traffic Conditions, Orange County
3. My Yahoo
4. RX-8 Forum (heh)

What'd you all think?

Any suggestions?

BRx8

even if you were able to get that to work, you'd need a keyboard to input city names, web addresses, login information, etc...not only that but you'd have to somehow have a satellite or terrestrial microwave Internet connection on at all times...not only would this be very difficult to have without having a large dish on top of your car always pointed to the south, but it'd be WAY too expensive right now...

you want to use a computer, don't use it in the car...too many ppl die each year on cell phone use alone, how much more with people looking up **** in the car?

Squidward

the internet connection will be through a notebook GPRS connection, mounted in the trunk.

All settings/selections will be preprogrammed, I don't intend to have to type anything, all required input would be through cookies or automated input.

It will be possible to tap into the controls and video screen, you just need the proper wiring and mechanisms to switch between the NAV system and the computer system.

The traffic conditions isn't real-time, only status refreshed from the several different websites out there that provide that info.

You're over thinking this.. It's not that hard. Overhead dish?? hehe C'mon.... you must not know much about computers and wireless technology...

BRx8

you still would be pretty limited without a keyboard...traffic conditions is perhaps the only use you'd have for this but i'm sure there are several AM stations in your area devoted to doing just that...

the only experience i have with GPRS is on my GSM phone and i'm only able to access WAP sites, not HTML unless i download a program to convert HTML to WAP...while that would be a great idea to install a laptop in the trunk, wouldn't it be better to just use the laptop instead? if you have a GPRS connection on your laptop, why not do what cops do and just have the laptop docked to the side of the center console or something? i don't know, it sounds like a lot of work for very little gain

Squidward

The whole purpose is integrating these features into the current system.. Otherwise what's the point.. like you said, it's easier to just mount the darn laptop into the dash or center tunnel, but that defeats the whole purpose and looks ugly as hell. ANYONE can do that regardless of a car.. A friend of mine has a ford festiva and it is a totally wired geek mobile with a PC behind the driver seat and a notebook mounted on the passenger side dash at an angle..

I'd rather have it integrated into the current console or not have it at all.

Jsuzuki

I've been toying with the idea as well. With the rapid drop in price of compact motherboards while increasing in performance, I think it would be possible to handle speech to text. This would help eliminate the need for a keyboard.

If you stick with MS-Windows, you can hook into the DirectX Speech to Text API and send commands to other forms. I have also heard of libraries on the Linux front that have similar hooks.

It probably won't be as integrated as Honda's version where it can handle HVAC and the radio... But if you're dropping in a full PC, you'll probably have it do .mp3 files and .avi (when no one is looking) files. Throw 802.11x on. When you pull into your garage, automatic file sync up with the home server. Hmm.. Have the car PC talk with the home automation PC to open the garage up!


Arg, so many ideas. So little time to execute.

8_wannabe

Ignore the naysayers, Squidward. I understand where you're going with this and I agree it's not too awful hard. BRx8 just doesn't understand how GPRS fits it. Overhead dish? What a hoot! I wonder if anyone with graphics software and too much time on their hands can work us up a picture of an RX-8 with a 12-foot dish on the roof. Gyro-stabilized, of course. What an accessory!

BTW, many countries (Japan and England, for example) have "realtime" traffic systems tied directly into their navi systems. So when you request a route, your navi system routes you around jams if you so request. I've recently seen a self-contained system in the US for a monthly subscription; I didn't catch the name. It's voice only; no nav display. It's not elegant, but indicative that such technology is starting to come to the US. In fact, some Panasonic systems can be upgraded for traffic-awareness, but not in the US as the data systems aren't there yet. If I were you I'd start with research into this to see if traffic data systems are on their way that are integrated directly with nav. That would be way cool. They are proprietary, not internet based.

Squidward

thanks for the support, bro

Kev

Realtime RX8 cam on RX8 Forum coming soon ??? :D :D :D

Whatever happened to all of that in car Windows CE development that was "about to happen"?

Just having a few GB of MP3's and a voice i/f would be worth the effort in my books!

Interesting web info wcould be read to you with a text to voice synth...

In car innovation in this area has advanced about as far as the piston engine