Disqus
BMW is working on a way to sideload large scale mapping data (like parking structures) to enable a new breed of micro-navigation. The project, Pathfinder, is still in the works, but is being prototyped on BMW 3 Series vehicles, presumably through ConnectedDrive. When punching in a route, the appropriate micro-maps (if available) are sent to the car from your PC. Although the bulk of the navigation will be handled with the on-board system, micro-map data can be transferred to a mobile so drivers can find their parking spot again when they’re ready to roll.
There are a few companies that are trying to get started with indoor navigation, like Micello for iPhone, and Nokia was beta testing something similar using Wi-Fi hotspots, which both still show a lot of promise. Although micro-navigation might seem like it’s inherently better-suited for indoors, BMW says they’re trying to use the same technology to incorporate lanes in navigation. It’s a pretty cool evolution of standard car navigation, and I suspect that in the long run most mobile GPS apps will need to cover structures at this scale in order to compete.
[via BMW]
About The Author
Simon Sage
Simon Sage’s education largely surrounded writing, technology and online community, leading him to begin his blogging career at www.BlackBerryCool.com and to quickly discover a vibrant and active community surrounding BlackBerry and mobile technology. In exploring RIM’s platform, he has learned what enterprises are looking for in mobility as well as what makes the innocuous BlackBerry so appealing to them. Recently Simon’s been covering RIM’s gradual move into an already-crowded consumer market, and the impact of burgeoning challengers, such as the iPhone, as well as long-time leaders, like Nokia, on BlackBerry’s advancement. With plenty of content under his belt, Simon will be branching off a bit to see what other smartphone manufacturers are working on while still using BlackBerry as a barometer. At IntoMobile, you can count on his posts being even-handed, well-informed and thought-out.
