Integration of nomadic devices with automotive user interfaces

Abstract

The number of nomadic devices such as PDAs, MP3 players and especially cell phones has largely grown in the last years; Indeed, cell phones are becoming powerful, always-connected computers that store a lot of personal information (contacts, calendar, personal videos and pictures). The small size of their keyboards and screens is a major limitation of nomadic devices, hampering their utilization in vehicles. Handling them while driving may distract the user and increases the risk of accident, and it is illegal in some countries. According to the Web 2.0 vision, the Internet is a platform rather than a mere source of information. The interfaces of Ajax-based applications are user friendly, and they allow storing personal information and preferences. Google Maps is a good example of this philosophy. Nowadays, it is a familiar tool in desktop computers to locate destinations and to plan routes at home. In this paper we propose a new model of Web 2.0 information migration to nomadic devices that facilitates is access to cars.