Sun, Ford Drives Info Car of the Future
2/18/2003 - Sun Microsystems will be demonstrating new concepts that could potentially deliver context-sensitive services to consumers through advances in network computing infrastructures. Sun has collaborated with Ford Research Laboratory, the research and development arm of Ford Motor Company, to design and develop the Vehicle Consumer Services Interface. This architecture has the capability of allowing the addition of multiple devices and service to the vehicle design, such as cell-phones, pagers, and PDAs, without the need to re-programme legacy code or change internal systems that may affect reliability and increase costs. As a result, future car buyers may have the ability for virtually continuous access to information services tailored to their needs, preferences and locations including:
- Real-time weather and traffic reports specific to commuting routes or travel itineraries
- Financial or other information relevant to scheduled meetings
- Restaurant and menu suggestions and reservation services, tailored to individual calendar schedules and tastes
- Hands-off, heads-up presentation of information or voice communications
Using this design, the industry will gain opportunities for:
- Integrating new services and devices into the legacy vehicle environment at minimal cost
- Creating a three-to-four year engineering lifecycle for vehicles for longer impact integration of new technologies into the vehicle environment
- Using an XML-based content delivery mechanism that allows integration and connection with multiple services and devices, regardless of platform and language
- Enhanced revenue by having a vehicle with leading-edge technology architecture for a competitive edge
Consultants from Sun Services helped Ford design this architecture based on open standards and powered by such as Jini[tm], Java[tm] and XML technologies. The Sun[tm] Open Net Environment (Sun ONE) Studio 4Mobile Edition has been used to facilitate the development of certain applications within this architectural framework.
"This is a world-class solution that brings the best of Sun to bear for Ford. The quality, flexibility and openness of this solution is truly providing Ford with a potential competitive advantage," said Dan Hushon, director of strategy for Sun Services consulting group. "Our ability to develop a solution that meets our customer's goals is critical, and this demonstrates that we have the knowledge and technology to do just that, regardless of the challenge."
Hushon, who helps provide leadership around market, technology, partner and engagement strategy for Sun Services, was instrumental in the design of this architecture. He will head a team of Sun experts on hand at the Sun booth in Hall 1, space C6 at the Palais des Congres, to demonstrate this leading-edge context-sensitive technology solution.
About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- "The Network Is The Computer[tm]" -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://sun.com
Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Solaris, Java, Netra, Sun Enterprise, Sun Fire and the Network is the Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc., in the United States and other countries.
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