Take Your Digital World On The Road

You live in a digital home, you work in a digital office, and you access digital music, images, video and communications on the move. Now it’s time to complete your integration into the digital world with a digital car.

A digital car with Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Technology means you need never be ‘offline’ again. Take your digital world with you wherever you go, and access the office, emails, or games, music and films while you’re on the move.

The digital car is for everybody. Whether you’re a serious gamer, a PC enthusiast or a business traveller, it offers almost unlimited possibilities. For example, in your digital car you can…

• Transfer music from your home PC to your car
• Stay connected with rich media emails
• Download and edit your photos
• Access your office network while on the move
• Surf the internet, download files and print pages
• Play games online
• Entertain yourself with DVDs and live TV
• Backup files on your home PC or server

The digital car is an entertaining, exciting, inspirational, even visionary concept. It removes the barriers that restrict your digital world to the home or office, while making your journey more productive. It is the future of travel, but how far into the future?

The digital car is already taking shape and Intel with help from BMW and EEPD, is leading the way.

At the recent CeBIT trade show Intel and BMW premiered a prototype BMW Series 7 that doubles as a mobile office. Computing power is generated by a Tablet PC based on Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Technology fitted into the armrest on the back seat, along with a Bluetooth™ enabled printer and a fax machine. A built-in WLAN (wireless LAN) access point, linking to GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) 3rd generation phone networks, connects you to the outside world. The car is fitted with absolutely everything you need to enjoy WiFi as you speed along. A similar concept featuring Intel technology has been created by specialist company EEPD.

Although such prototypes have been conceived as mobile offices, they are equally suitable for transforming your car into a mobile entertainment centre. Intel has already demonstrated a concept Seat Alhambra, fitted with a 1A (Pentium® M processor) based infotainment solution, complete with MP3, Route navigation, DVD, TV, Internet and Email.

With a built in PC, both BMW and the EEPD solution make mobile working safer. No loose parts mean your driver or passengers are safer in the event of an accident. Should you need a wireless keyboard, this can also be fixed in position in the car.

So how does theory translate into reality? Let’s look at some scenarios.

David is a keen gamer. He’s also fond of mountain biking in Scotland with his girlfriend Emma. Right now, those 5 hour journeys from their home in England really drag. With a digital car, David could play his favourite games and the trip would seem over almost before it had begun. While on the way back, Emma could edit all the digital photos they’ve just shot as David takes his turn at the wheel.

Phil lives in London and always seems to be stuck in traffic. His old tape collection bores him, as does the radio. But with a digital car he could download and play a whole library of MP3 files from home. He may even start looking forward to driving to work! Plus, the onboard route navigation system can highlight alternative routes to beat the dreaded London traffic.

The Johnson family have young children who love seeing their grandparents. But they don’t love the car journey – and nor do mum and dad! With a digital car, the children could watch the latest DVD’s or surf the web while driving along.

It’s easy to appreciate how this technology can enhance your lifestyle whether for business, pleasure or both. Soon, you won’t need to leave the benefits of WiFi at home or the office. You can experience your digital world on the road.

A full version of the Car PC can be ordered through EEPD for installation in any new or used car.