Info: Car Navigation Systems

Hello from Japan! We’ve been very excited lately about the latest in GPS here in Japan, and we thought we’d bring you a taste of what’s here, and what’s to come.

Car navigation systems have been popular in Japan for some time now and the recent progress has been astounding. Japan is a difficult country to navigate with its narrow (and frequently unmarked) roads, as well as its haphazard organization. Combine this navigational need with the Japanese penchant for going the extra technological mile and you get navigation that combines many elements of the real world right into your dashboard or handheld device.

In the latest dashboard-installed equipment we’re seeing complete navigation and stereo integration with beautiful (and big) widescreen displays. Of course these are touchscreens, but they also include remotes to operate everything from the TV, CD, MD, DVD, radio, or GPS.

Grand Theft Auto without the mayhem

Of course the equipment is getting better and better, but how about the navigation itself? How can you really improve on a basic concept of a map besides making it more detailed? Companies such as Kenwood, Pioneer, and Sony have taken the multiple views option common in many driving video games and added it to navigation. The result is a first person view of the real world in a 3D-rendered digital environment. As you drive down the street you can look straight ahead and see an office building with your own eyes, or look down and see the office building on the screen. Imagine Grand Theft Auto without the mayhem.

Marketing Possibilities

The marketing possibilities are endless. Companies can pay to have their businesses integrated into the system, allowing users to see their icons on the screen, or even have a realistic digital rendering of their building. Not only do such options make it easier for users to find what they’re looking for, but it also provides good advertisement space. Is the idea of future free or discounted GPS service in exchange for on-screen ads very unrealistic? Not at all!

My own experience with car navigation in Japan has always been flawless. We can find gas stations, convenience stores, and any address with the touch of a button. My personal favorite is the in-dash Carrozzeria series from Pioneer. It looks cool, has all the features I would want (and more), and has the very cool first-person 3-D view option.

And there’s a lot more out there than I could even mention in this post. We’ll keep our eyes open of course, so keep your eyes open to this page. Sayonara.

Kenwood

Carrozzeria

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