Navigation
Users of Google Street View and Bing Maps Streetside will be familiar with the stop-start effect as they navigate along a street. This is because as the user moves along the street the viewpoint jumps from one discreet 360-degree panorama, or ‘bubble’, to the next . A new street-level imaging system developed by Microsoft called Street Slide allows users to smoothly navigate along a street by creating a seamless transition between bubbles using multiperspective strip panoramas that provide an overview of the street. Read More
Fujitsu's new wireless outpatient registration and information system has just been launched. Should a user need to visit a medical center operating the system, slotting a chipped-card into a special device will wirelessly register the outpatient and provide information about a scheduled appointment, where to go and what wait time can be expected. Read More
Portable navigation company Mio has announced a new product at CeBIT 2010 which is set to further blur the boundaries between GPS navigation, entertainment and Internet devices - the Mio Moov V780. Not only will users be able to find their way around but with the flick of a finger they'll be able to scroll through photos, watch high definition videos or play their favorite music. There's even the option to view digital TV thanks to an integrated receiver. Read More
If you’re a student at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) who is left gasping for breath when forced to drag yourself away from your studies to get a snack, rejoice! A CMU team has created a robot that is designed to deliver snacks to you. But the appropriately named Snackbot is far more than a vending machine on wheels. It is designed to serve as a research platform for the study of long-term Human-Robot Interaction and packs a healthy helping of technological goodies, including a laser navigation system, sonar sensors and a stereo vision camera for eyes. Read More
Garmin updates Zumo line of motorcycle nav units
Garmin has introduced the newest member of its Zumo family of motorcycle-oriented GPS navigators, the Zumo 220. Coming on the heels of the CES 2010 announcement of the top-of-line Zumo 665 with XM capability, the Zumo 220 rounds out the series offering key features at a more affordable price. The new unit sports a touchscreen interface in a rugged, waterproof, and fuel-proof housing. Navigation features include text-to-speech directions, “lane assist” guidance, and on-road/off-road modes. Although it is less fully-featured compared to the Zumo 550 or 665, the Zumo 220 does feature Bluetooth headset capability, a MicroSD memory card slot, and improved battery life. Read More
The TamTam Flash concept GPS torch is both a familiar looking and new technology in a number of ways. It resembles an ordinary flashlight and its name sounds an awful lot like TomTom, which neatly links to the fact that the concept torch is actually a GPS mapping device that gives its user the option of either a street map view or a turn by turn guided navigation projected onto a surface. Read More
Free turn-by-turn navigation coming to all Nokia smartphones
Nokia has announced the upcoming release of a new, free version of Ovi Maps for all its smartphones, which includes turn-by-turn voice navigation for 74 countries in 46 languages, real-time traffic updates for 10 countries, and maps for over 180 countries. Read More
Multimedia on the move - the JVC Kenwood AVENUE MDV-313 navigation system
JVC and Kenwood has produced its first in-car navigation system since last years merger and it certainly offers more than directions for getting from A to B. As well as boasting virtual 3D maps and fast response times, the AVENUE MDV-313 features a 6.1” touchscreen LED backlit display, integrated DVD player and TV tuner, as well as USB and SD card slots and optional iPod connectivity. Read More
