Visteon ICES -- wireless Web
CES was the launching pad for Visteon's new ICES (Information, Communication, Entertainment, Safety, and Security). ICES is an Auto PC platform that sets new standards in speech user interface and wireless connectivity for the car. ICES uses an Intel Pentium Processor combined with Microsoft Windows CE for Automotive 2.0, Visteon's own industry-leading continuous speech recognition, and a wireless packet data Internet link. The continuous speech recognition means not having to say "Auto PC, pause, radio, pause, seek" any more. Instead, you could simply say "radio seek up" or "radio tune 93.3". This is far more natural than the current recognition system. This makes ICES user interface head and shoulders above the competition in the realm of Auto PCs and Automotive Telematics units.

The other really sexy feature of ICES is its integrated wireless Internet connection. It uses the same Mobitex packet data network that's used by the Palm VII. The sort of data you can get with this unit is along the lines of Web clippings rather than a Web browser. As the user, you specify what content you're interested in and it gets delivered to you. That's just fine, though, since something like 80% (or more) of all automobiles are occupied by only the driver. For obvious safety reasons, the driver is much better off if the information is retrieved and presented rather than having to wade through links. You also have access to wireless email, which is much better than the current solution that CUE networks offers, of just getting what amounts to short text messages.

ICES has a large screen on it, approximately five inches, and has a 4:3 aspect ratio. Instead of covering the faceplate with a bunch of buttons, Visteon instead opted for surrounding the right and bottom edge of the screen with softkey buttons, ATM-style. The button label gets drawn on the screen, but the user presses a physical button. This is much better than a touch screen, because the driver can know what button he's pressing simply by the tactile feedback he gets from each button.

There's a set of buttons for quickly getting to commonly used features, and a much-welcomed rotary volume control. ICES also has an AM/FM radio and CD playback features. It supports an optional six disc USB changer (Clarion's unit with Visteon's label), MP3 playback, and an optional cellular phone interface. You can see all these features in Figure C.

FIGURE C

The Visteon ICES screen has a bunch of great features that allow for easier driver manageability. Click picture for a larger image.

ICES uses Visteon's own turn-by-turn navigation system, which uses ICES's built-in GPS to get vehicle location. Visteon's navigation system is the same one used by their NavMate Navigation System. It uses a moving map display with turn-by-turn voice prompts. It wasn't clear if their system has dead reckoning features in it like the Clarion 320DV. One very welcomed feature in the navigation system is the detour function, which allows you to tell the navigation system that the current route isn't navigable and to find another way. This feature is fundamental when you run into construction or congestion problems and want to get around them.