CES 2010 Wrap-up – Looking to our Future

Automobiles

The auto industry realizes that the best way to sell us new cars is by adding desirable computing and entertainment packages into them and they are using CES to promote their technologies.  All of the major manufacturers showed their integrated computing systems that encompass everything related to the automobile. At CES they showed us the future that they are planning to give us including an automobile cockpit that enhances reality and safety – if the driver can keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.  Of course the auto manufacturers are also looking far into the future and these new PC enhanced cars are ultimately being targeted at our kids and grand kids who will grow up with these technologies.

NVIDIA and Audi announced at CES that NVIDIA GPUs will power the navigation and entertainment systems in all 2010 Audi vehicles worldwide. This integration of Silicon Valley technology and German engineering introduces GPUs to the automotive industry which enables advanced visual capabilities including, full 3D navigation with advanced driver assistance and safety systems, and a “dual zone” entertainment system that enables two videos to be shown simultaneously on different screens to the passengers.

The navigation and entertainment system in the new Audi 2010 product line is the 3G MMI, and it uses NVIDIA GPUs to process and generate all of the visual imagery. The built-in navigation system features 3D topography of buildings and cities.  Real-time traffic reporting and navigation information is given as audible route-guidance prompts and by turn arrows. This system can recognize complex scenarios and even make anticipatory decisions.

In addition, NVIDIA worked with Audi to develop a complete multimedia engine called Vibrante which is the media backbone of 3G MMI. The Vibrante multimedia engine allows Audi passengers to watch DVDs and/or listen to music while having the option for online video content – even to allowing passengers to simultaneously enjoy two different movies on two different screens on the backseat monitors.

NVIDIA and Audi also worked with Google to enable Google Earth on future 3G MMI systems powered by NVIDIA GPUs. The Google-based service enables drivers to plan trips at home and then use them in the car as needed. Users can also search for points-of-interest from the 3G MMI. This will be the first time that Google Earth will be available in any production vehicle.

In addition, the next generation NVIDIA Tegra ultra low-power HD mobile processors will drive the advanced entertainment and navigation systems in all 2012 Audi vehicles, as well as other Volkswagen AG brands, including Volkswagen, Bentley, and Lamborghini.  “The primary focus of car computing is safety,” said Jen-Hsun Huang, president and chief executive officer, NVIDIA. “With the power of Tegra’s eight processors, the car’s computing system can have cameras both inside and outside the vehicle monitoring the driver and the road, providing real-time feedback and guiding you to your next destination, all at the same time.”

Microsoft also demonstrated their mobile products.

It was a pretty large exhibit. Check out their automobile exhibit in this video.

It is projected for 2010, that OEM commitments to HD Radio Technology will total 15 automobile brands across 80 vehicle types of which 36 will be “standard” to include HD radio in their vehicles. Of course, much of CES is devoted to audio and especially automotive sound.  Where you have autos, you have guys and there are pretty girls to demonstrate the new products.

What would an electronics show be without the superstar cars?

Or what would it be like without the girls?

The above is MSI’s booth where they offered a free MSI gaming notebook if you could out shoot their resident gamers in Quake and a couple of other fast paced PC shooters.  They gave it away in a drawing at the end of the show.

Let’s head for the tech area.