VW and Google Team Up for Astonishing New Navigation System
Photos
Google and nVidia Give VW Nav a Whole New Perspective
Navigation systems are hot commodities in todays automotive market. Whether aftermarket or OEM, theyre an example of future-think technology available right now; something that people could only dream of ten years ago. As costly as nav systems are, theyve completely changed the face of driving, often taking much of the stress and hazard out of a journey to an unfamiliar place. No longer is a road map or a print-out of a route plan necessary, or even your memory to effectively get you where youre going; all thats needed is enter in your destination and follow the soothing voice and clever graphics of the nav system.
Have you ever wished your navigation system did more? Automakers are taking this into account, constantly upping the ante with each new model: the switch from CD to DVD has reduced load times as well as the number of discs needed to cover the entire country dramatically, and the quality of screens and user interfaces have also improved, allowing companies like Nissan to offer a birds eye view of your route and Audi the ability to enter in data while on the move. Some systems are particularly advanced, such as the NAVTEQ (XM Satellite) system in the U.S.-market Acura RL, which uses live technology to alert you when theres traffic blockages, and instantly re-route you around a jam saving you time and quite possibly your sanity. If you like the sound of this, then Volkswagens next-generation navigation system should be an absolute treat.
Chances are, sometime between reading this article and the first time you started using the internet, youve heard of, or utilized the services of Google. What started out as a web search engine operated by a bunch of university students has turned into a multi-billion dollar corporate empire, which has branched out to different, although complementary market verticals significantly. Googles biggest foray, aside from its blitzkrieg on NASDAQ, was to create an interactive map of the entire world using photos taken by satellites. They called it Google Earth (http://earth.google.com), and its a very entertaining way of passing a few hours, exploring the surface of our green and blue planet. Aside from being a marvel of human progress, it still has yet to prove any viable use… that is, until Google crossed paths with Volkswagen.
At this years Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Volkswagen and Google presented the first prototype of their brainchild, a completely different kind of navigation system packed with unheard of new features. The system is so advanced that its been touted by the media as the closest thing to a “virtual reality travel information” system. On the surface, the new development works and functions like a touch-screen navigation system. You enter in data through the on-screen keyboard, while the interface also controls the stereo, and other functions, like most modern all-in-one media centers. Of course, not to be outdone by whats currently on the market, the system provides a live feed of information about the traffic, and the weather.
But heres where things get more interesting. Volkswagen and Google have figured out a way of getting the Google Earth data onto the in-car navigation screen in a photorealistic 3D manner. Techno-garble aside, this means that what you see out the windows of your car - the horizon, the buildings and landscape surrounding you - is displayed accordingly in 3D graphics, from any angle, all thanks to a new kind of graphics card developed by nVidia. Not only is the idea of being able to see around you extremely cool, but the real advantage is that it gives drivers and passengers inside the car a better sense of orientation and direction.
If providing realistic graphics werent enough, the system has “open end” capabilities which link it to Googles internet search engine through the same on-board telematics that control the navigation system. “Open end” allows the navigation system to provide drivers with valuable data to help plan routes and trips, with the means not only to display road-side rest stops, hotels, shopping centers and tourists guides, but their hours of operations and any specials or events they may be promoting. The system even has the capability to show the price of fuel at gas stations and the times of movies at theaters, all in real time and on demand. Also, because the system constantly updates itself, unlike a DVD or a CD, youll never be out of luck when new roads are built or old roads are closed.
Though Volkswagen and Google insist that the new navigation system is just a demonstration, and that the two brands are still developing it, chances are itll come to market, mind you, it wont be for some time. Everything about the system, from the type of data it uses to the information itself, to the system used to transmit it, to the graphics, are simply beyond the capabilities of todays technology, but the two firms are hard at work developing the goods to make this dream a reality. As far as in-car navigation goes, theres plenty to look forward to with VW-Googles navigation system, for road journeymen (and journeywomen), tech-savvy car fans, and everyday people alike.
Recently Added To Our Network
| 1997 Volkswagen Cabrio Highline | Everett, WA | Price: $5,999 | |
| 1998 Volkswagen Cabrio GLS | Las Vegas, NV | Price: $4,982 | |
| 1999 Volkswagen Cabrio NEW GL | Waterloo, NY | Price: $5,909 | |
| 1999 Volkswagen Cabrio GL | Fort Myers, FL | Price: $5,897 | |
| 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio GLS | Colorado Springs, CO | Price: $5,995 | |
| 2000 Volkswagen Cabrio GLS | San Rafael, CA | Price: $6,592 | |
| 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio GLS | East Petersburg, PA | Price: $4,988 | |
| 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio GLX | San Jose, CA | Price: $8,500 | |
| 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio GLS | Springfield, IL | Price: $8,758 | |
| 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio GLS | Waterloo, NY | Price: $6,701 | |
| 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio GL | Aurora, CO | Price: Contact Seller | |
| 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio GL | Meriden, CT | Price: $6,385 | |
| 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio GL | Sterling, VA | Price: $6,981 | |
| 2001 Volkswagen Cabrio GLX | San Rafael, CA | Price: $6,492 | |
| 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio GLX | Conshohocken, PA | Price: $5,492 | |
| 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio GLX | Clearwater, FL | Price: $8,977 | |
| 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio GLX | Colmar, PA | Price: $8,990 | |
| 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio GLX | Fort Walton Beach, FL | Price: $8,977 | |
| 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio GLX | Seattle, WA | Price: $8,899 | |
| 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio GLS | Wynnewood, PA | Price: Contact Seller | |
| 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio GLS | Saint Paul, MN | Price: $6,997 | |
| 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio GLX | Weatherford, TX | Price: $7,988 | |
| 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio GLX | Bedford, MA | Price: $8,550 | |
| 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio GLS | Fallston, MD | Price: $9,388 | |
| 1988 Volkswagen Cabriolet | Machesney Park, IL | Price: $3,000 | |
| 1990 Volkswagen Cabriolet | Fort Wayne, IN | Price: $6,865 | |
| 1990 Volkswagen Cabriolet | Fayetteville, AR | Price: $3,749 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Motion | Bronx, NY | Price: $34,494 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Motion | Charlotte, NC | Price: $34,990 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport | Long Island City, NY | Price: $25,990 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Luxury | Sterling, VA | Price: $29,899 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Luxury | Avondale, AZ | Price: $30,522 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 Sport | Chicago, IL | Price: $33,433 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 Sport | Naples, FL | Price: Contact Seller | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Motion | Richardson, TX | Price: $33,939 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Luxury | Richardson, TX | Price: $34,995 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Motion | Sarasota, FL | Price: $33,990 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Motion | Feasterville Trevose, PA | Price: $33,395 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport | Coraopolis, PA | Price: $25,888 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Luxury | Huntington Beach, CA | Price: $28,995 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 Sport | Clearwater, FL | Price: $28,994 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Luxury | Chantilly, VA | Price: $30,900 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport | Thousand Oaks, CA | Price: $28,550 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport | Woodland Hills, CA | Price: $26,995 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Luxury | Woodland Hills, CA | Price: $31,895 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Luxury | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Price: $27,987 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Price: $25,375 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport | Asheville, NC | Price: $26,900 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Motion | Beaverton, OR | Price: $34,588 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport | Alexandria, VA | Price: $24,924 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport | Alexandria, VA | Price: $24,998 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Motion | Saint Louis, MO | Price: $36,987 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Motion | Nyack, NY | Price: $35,061 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Motion | Nyack, NY | Price: $34,374 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 Sport | Birmingham, AL | Price: $38,999 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 Sport | Birmingham, AL | Price: $38,999 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport | Killeen, TX | Price: $27,995 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Motion | Ventura, CA | Price: $33,888 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport | Bellevue, WA | Price: $25,888 | |
| 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport | San Jose, CA | Price: $24,445 | |
| 2010 Volkswagen CC Sport | Charlotte, NC | Price: $30,988 | |
| 2010 Volkswagen CC Sport | Las Vegas, NV | Price: $26,991 | |
| 2010 Volkswagen CC Sport | Hayward, CA | Price: $28,288 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 3.2L | Chicago, IL | Price: $29,911 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Rochester, NY | Price: $27,995 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Raleigh, NC | Price: $23,995 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Modesto, CA | Price: $27,595 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Conway, SC | Price: $27,800 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Aurora, CO | Price: $19,999 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos | Norristown, PA | Price: $22,999 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Sterling, VA | Price: $24,341 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Sterling, VA | Price: $23,997 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Charleston, SC | Price: $22,985 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Franklin, TN | Price: $24,800 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Melbourne, FL | Price: $25,880 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Chicago, IL | Price: $24,911 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Oakland, CA | Price: $26,999 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Franklin, WI | Price: $23,090 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | San Antonio, TX | Price: $22,995 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Grapevine, TX | Price: $20,950 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Dallas, TX | Price: $21,888 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos | Columbus, OH | Price: $29,995 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Torrance, CA | Price: $21,995 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Richardson, TX | Price: Contact Seller | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Clearwater, FL | Price: $24,981 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Richardson, TX | Price: $22,965 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 3.2L | Richardson, TX | Price: $25,030 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Goldsboro, NC | Price: $22,850 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Goldsboro, NC | Price: $21,575 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 3.2L | Vienna, VA | Price: $26,987 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Red Bank, NJ | Price: $24,995 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Norristown, PA | Price: $21,976 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | San Antonio, TX | Price: $22,995 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Huntington Beach, CA | Price: $21,995 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Boylston, MA | Price: Contact Seller | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Las Vegas, NV | Price: $21,994 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Sanford, FL | Price: $23,094 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 3.2L | Ramsey, NJ | Price: $24,550 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Tampa, FL | Price: $25,991 | |
| 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T | Auburn, WA | Price: $22,888 |