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Automotive Convergence
While convergence of technologies or business models had been around for many years before the automobile, automotive convergence represents both a highly advanced form of the melting of technologies and a showcase for new types of convergence. Early forms of convergence in automobiles would be things like adding AM radio receivers and decks to cars. What originally was just a form of transportation was now a form of media, news, music, and various other basic types of audio via the airwaves, as well as a form of transportation.
As technology advanced and technologies became easier to produce with smaller parts, the advancement of in car receivers happened rather dramatically. A second radio band, FM, was included in car decks, as well as another new technology allowing for portable user controlled cartridges. These cartridges would be known as 8 Track players. As technology continued to advance and shrink, cassettes were soon included, followed by Compact Discs, user created and written discs, satellite radio, MP3 player input, and data Digital Variety Discs. These technologies would only be the beginning of items brought together for use in automobiles.
While in car navigation is a relatively new phenomenon, portable navigation has been around for quite some time. In fact, maps have been around since almost the dawn of recorded history. It was not until the 1990s that companies like Garmin put them into the hands of consumers with easy to read and easy to use portable GPS devices. It was only a matter of time until that technology spread into use in cars, as people needed convenient navigation on the go. Early editions were generally after market devices mounted to the dash board, but they soon became far more streamlined with today’s new automotive technologies.
Cars with built in Bluetooth systems were the next big convergence of personal technologies implemented into automobiles. These systems allowed drivers to make phone calls without as many distractions or taking as much attention off the road. Bluetooth, accompanied with systems like OnStar which help drivers via remote system checks or emergency services, car owners can now be safer on the road. These systems help their users in a variety of ways, but they can lead to some problems.
With systems like OnStar allowing the company to monitor a driver’s (almost) every move, there are privacy issues that come up with the inclusion of converged technology in cars. Under heavy speeding, aggressive braking or driving, intense cornering, and other past times of automotive enthusiasts, the emergency offices of these consumer help companies are alerted. In extreme situations this data can even be used by law enforcement groups to find out what caused an accident or crash. Many people feel that this monitoring goes way beyond the convenience associated with these devices, and choose to not use them at all as a result.
The accumulation of all of these technologies into one device is a rather recent phenomenon, but it has happened in the in dash navigational systems. These systems are fully functional stereos, navigation systems, emergency help centers, Bluetooth calling assistants, voice recorders, data centers, and more. They combine all functions into an easy to use in dash system, generally within easy reach and use of the driver. Many new cars also include buttons on the wheel in order for the driver to have easier access without as much distraction to all these features.
The 2008 Cadillac CTS has set the new bar for in car convergence, it’s all in one system does many things others systems had not yet successfully implemented. The car can rip CDs for the user onto a 40GB built in hard drive. This means that the user does not need to carry his or her favorite CDs around with them once they are stored in the cars data center. Much like a TiVo, the car will also record up to 60 minutes of audio stream even if the car is off, or you’ve switched stations. This means you won’t miss your favorite XM satellite radio show (which is also included in the car), even if you run into the store on the way home from work to pick up some groceries. When the driver comes back out, they will be able to hit play and continue like they’d never left. This all in one center is truly a masterpiece of form and function, convenience and comfort, and represents convergence to the fullest.