Car Computers - Why Do I Need One? [aboutcomputer99.blogspot.com]

Car Computers - Why Do I Need One? [aboutcomputer99.blogspot.com]

Rocketboom Tech correspondent Ellie Rountree speaks with artist and programmer Zach Lieberman about his work on openFrameworks, computer vision and the creation of the Toyota IQ font. www.thesystemis.com www.openframeworks.cc en.wikipedia.org www.vimeo.com www.rocketboom.com www.elspethjane.com This episode was created in collaboration with Intel http Join us at Rocketboom.com for an ad free experience.

aboutcomputer99.blogspot.com Turning Cars and Computers into Art with Zach Lieberman

The all conquering microprocessor has crept steadily into most people's lives. Nowadays it is used for all sorts of appliances from simple controllers in domestic appliances to comparatively sophisticated items such as entertainment systems and laptop and desktop computers.

The fast pace of technological progress together with the reduction in the size of the computer chips has also made possible their use in relatively powerful handheld devices such as the ubiquitous cellphone, and PDA's.

At the same time, the average car has changed dramatically, as carburettors and electro/mechanical ignition systems have given way to fuel injection, electronic ignition and engine management systems. However, one area which has not yet been targeted by the mainstream automotive industry is the use of computers for entertainment and driver information.

The car computer (carputer) is with us now and growing in popularity, but apart from being fitted as a very expensi ve optional extra, or retro-fitted by a specialist dealer, it has fallen to enthusiasts to take up the challenge of fitting a PC in their own vehicles. As is evident by the active forums on the internet, this challenge has been accepted with alacrity, and today, there is a huge and growing community who are not prepared to accept the standard offerings of the car manufacturers.

You may be asking yourself why you would want a computer in your car. A carputer is quite simply the most flexible accessory you can add. The uses to which it can be put are limited only by your imagination. Accessories which start their life as add-ons, tend to be ultimately adopted by the manufacturers as standard equipment. Think heated windows, variable speed windscreen wipers, even car stereos. In years to come, you can expect car manufacturers to start fitting carputers as standard equipment. However, because of the open architecture of the PC, there will always be scope for users to custo mise it to suit their own personalities and preferences.

The most common use for a carputer is as an entertainment centre to replace the stereo. Thanks to audio compression formats such as MP3, and cheap portable players, we've all grown used to carrying our music collection around with us at all times. However, the huge storage capacity which the carputer brings with it means you have an enormous virtual juke box to hold your entire music collection. You can configure this to suit yourself and have as many or as few playlists as you want. This still leaves plenty of storage space for video files. If you want to keep your passengers entertained on long journeys, you can simply add video display screens and connect them to the carputer, rather than buying a standalone video system.

Satellite Navigation is another powerful application which has seen a phenomenal growth in popularity over the past few years. Portable units which can be transferred between cars can b e useful, and are significantly cheaper than pre-installed units. However, these invariably have smaller screens, always look like an afterthought, and are easily stolen unless removed every time you leave the car. Connecting a GPS receiver to your carputer can be as simple as plugging it into a free USB socket. This will be cheaper than even a portable sat nav unit, although there is still the additional cost of map software to consider. After all, you can still remove the PC and take it with you if you change your vehicle.

Other popular uses include:-

Fiting a rear view camera to improve the view and eliminate blind spots when reversing. This improves pedestrian safety and means a much lower risk of damaging the vehicle when parking. Connecting an OBD2 adapter allows you to perform many of the diagnostic checks which can normally only be done by a garage. The adapter will probably more than pay for itself if you can use it to identify a fault you are able to fix yourself, rather than taking it to a garage. Hands free integration of your cellphone.

There are any number of other possibilities. let your imagination roam free. Decide today that you want to be one of the early adopters. You won't regret it!

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Question by ninjn2: Where to find Car Computers for a good price? I'm looking to install a compute in my car with the price range of about $ 300-$ 500. I would like to buy one at a store rather than online. Does anyone know where to find one? Best answer for Where to find Car Computers for a good price?:

Answer by co_elaine
You can check the Informationex website. They have computers and accessories for sale. http://www.informationex.com

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