IT+systems+in+cars


 * 1. Describe the term.**

IT systems refer to the **Intelligent Transport system** technology integrated into **transport vehicles**, like cars. An **example** of and ITS is a **GPS system** that keeps track of the car’s location, and displays the car moving on a virtual map displayed through a monitor located inside the vehicle. ITS also refers to the systems designed to improve transport outcomes (safety, reliability, productivity … etc.). []
 * GPS Monitor Screen** located inside the car.

[]


 * 2. Describe the use of IT in each area, (internet, database, etc)**


 * Hardware:**
 * GPS Monitor –** Use of the GPS monitor for the driver to see the virtual map on a screen
 * GPS Antenna –** The GPS antenna connected to the car exterior is used to gather the signal of locating where the cars are, (so that it could be displayed on the virtual map).
 * Sensors –** The sensors (for example millimeter wave sensors) that are integrated in cars, to sense how much area is between the car and a wall for example. (Used while parking). Another use of sensors is used to detect vehicles around the car to prevent a collision.
 * Video Camera –** The video camera is used to display live footage from behind the vehicle (to be displayed on the monitor inside the car.

[] Mainly used in research purposes, current used with LIDAR to create a 360 degree map of the virtual map for the vehicle to travel to (driverless cars) to increase traffic security in transport. (Google and DARPA (these are the big companies involved here)
 * Software:**
 * GPS Software –** The specific GPS software is used to display information of the car’s position on the virtual map (look at **Azman’s** doc for more info.).
 * Video Monitoring System -** A specific system is present in transferring video footage from the video camera to a monitor screen inside the car. (Parking purposes)
 * Voice Recognition Software** – The software used for voice recognition to recognize the user’s voice (for making phone calls, selecting music to listen to) to convert voice into a digital signal to carry out commands to the system to do a task.
 * Robotics, AI, Expert System**


 * 3. Explain how IT helps with each area.**


 * Technology of the ITS uses IT**


 * Ease of Use** – Use of IT (such as a radio to listen to the news while in a traffic jam) is **easy** for people today because of their everyday use, so the use of the similar technology in a car is also easy.


 * Productivity** – The people are able to use their time wasted while in a traffic jam to do other things like listen to the news, listen to the radio, make phone calls (not handheld).


 * No Time Wasting** **Being Lost** – Use of the GPS can save the time trying to find a route to a destination. The GPS can tell the driver the best route.


 * Safety** – The use of sensors can help drivers while **parking**, and being aware of other cars that are coming towards the car. Sensors are also used to **sense the movement** of the vehicle wheels so that the other systems such as brake-assist can help control the movement of the car.


 * 4. Describe any problems with IT in each area.**


 * GPS Antenna –** The GPS antenna **may not be able to collect accurate signal**, because by the time the signal is received, the car would have already moved another distance.


 * Sensors –** The sensors may be **inaccurate** in estimating the distance between the vehicle and the obstacle.


 * GPS Software –** The specific GPS software is used to display information of the car’s position on the virtual map may not be as accurate, such as **not updated virtual maps** (look at **Azman’s** doc for more info.).

[] The main problem of the use of IT is the reliability of the technology that is being used, as well as its accuracy in informing drivers about what is happening in real time. Because technology is always evolving and developing, what is considered to be reliable then, may no longer be as reliable today. For example, the use of GPS is sometimes unreliable. The virtual maps may not be consistent with what you are facing in front of you. Not all roads can be exactly displayed on the screen because of constant alterations of infrastructure. Another problem is how up to date the IT system is, displaying old data may not be helpful to commuters today because the information is rendered useless. Voice recognition is not completely accurate instantaneously yet. The system has to learn to recognize the user’s voice patterns from various situations in order to be able to carry out an order correctly responding to a command by the driver.
 * Voice Recognition Software** – The software used for voice recognition to recognize the user’s voice (for making phone calls, selecting music to listen to) are **not reliable** because the system **has to learn to recognize various voice patterns**. It may also interpret the wrong pattern and carry out a wrong task.


 * 5. Identify and explain possible issues with each area. (Strand 1)**


 * Reliability –** Reliability refers to both the hardware and software integrated into the ITS in cars. The use of GPS system may be unreliable because of the inconsistency of the roads to the virtual map displayed. The sensors used for parking may be inaccurate, which can lead to a crash into the wall. The voice recognition software may be unreliable because of its initial inability to recognize the user’s voice, thus failing to carry out an order.


 * People and Machines –** The transition between cars that don’t have any visible IT systems to cars that are evident and basically a vehicle of IT systems may be challenging for some groups of people, for example, the elderly. The elderly may find it hard to have the car do some tasks which a human driver would usually do to be bizarre, to the point of scary. However, there are already many integrated IT systems in cars today, although some people might not know they are there, or if they are even IT systems.