A technological ride from A to B

By: Drivers.com Staff

Date: Tuesday, 14. August 2007

Over the past century autos changed the way we got from A to B and profoundly changed human lives. The 21st century is bringing equally profound changes.

"I made it in an hour and 25 minutes," boasted the driver. "It usually takes me more than an hour and a half."

This is the ultimate signature tune of driving boredom. The trip from A to B is all about getting it over with. Anything that gets in the way of that is frustration, and stress. But the times they are a-changing, and driving is on the cusp of changing to a philosophy of " the journey, not the destination."

When the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)was founded back in January, 1905, its member's big concerns were patent protection, solving technical design problems and the need for common standards. Back then, hardly anyone would have predicted the profound changes automobiles would bring to the countryside and how they would re-design city life by the end of the century.

A host of improvements, including reliable engines, better suspensions, and in 1910 the advent of the closed-in body, paved the way for the modern commute, urban sprawl and long distance driving on motorways.

Now, at the beginning of the 21st century, the SAE is looking forward to the next wave. The list of new developments is impressive, ranging from antilock braking systems to cars that allow drivers to change the responsiveness of their machines from sports car mode to luxury ride while on the move.

But perhaps the most profound changes will come from "automotive telematics." The definition of telematics is somewhat fuzzy due to the complex nature of the technologies involved. Dictionary.com defines it as "The combination of telecommunications and computing." This could include anything from dial-up internet connections to navigation systems in cars that get their information wirelessly.

Automotive telematics includes mobile phones, internet connectivity, navigation systems, emergency call services and even wireless connections that send information about engines, brakes and other automotive systems to service providers.

A new era

The wave of hype about telematics that flared a few years ago has abated now. A harsh reality settled in as technology providers, automotive manufacturers and other stakeholders began to realize that, not only were the technologies not coming together as expected, but there is a major obstacle to implementing them--poorly prepared drivers.

That could mean monster liability problems as drivers fall prey to distractions that may be exacerbated by poor design. "Ergonomics", is a hot buzzword in designing the new technologies into automobiles. In other words, engineers and designers are under severe pressure to take into account the characteristics of people that need to be considered in designing things that they use. Ergonomics is really just another word for 'user friendly.'

Despite the setbacks, and slow acceptance of some of the new technologies by the driving public, the allure of technology is irresistible. Soon yesterday's hype will be reality. The trip from A to B will be a trip through a world rich with information, about everything from the price of gas at nearby service stations to information about the local landscape, attractions in the area, food, entertainment.

Profound change

It's difficult to predict how all this will change our lives. The effects will likely manifest themselves over the next decade or two. In the 1950s and '60s, personal cars promoted massive movement of the middle classes from urban downtowns to "bedroom" suburbs, devastating the life of inner cities. What will telematics do?

Maybe we won't commute as much. Maybe traffic congestion will be relieved as drivers get information about congested areas and alternative routes. Perhaps traffic patterns will change in unpredictable ways as drivers find better ways to use their driving time. Perhaps there will be large-scale changes in commuting behavior.

The unfolding of this technological future is going to pose interesting challenges for drivers: multiple distractions in the car; new kinds of decisions to be made; and above all, a real need to cooperate in a traffic culture that may be very different from that experienced by today's drivers.

All of this means new challenges for driver educators and licensing administrators.

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