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Automotive Industry

Affordable guidance: JCI's point of interest compass directs for a lot less - Supply Side - Johnson Controls Inc - Brief Article

Automotive Industries, Dec, 2002 by Andrea Wielgat

It's a common dilemma--finding an address in the dark while driving. Squinting and slowing down help but in the end most people usually end up passing their destination only to double-back to find it.

Navigation systems help but most are too expensive for the average driver of a mainstream car or truck.

That's who Johnson Controls is targeting with its Point of Interest Compass concept Basically a mini-navigation system, the compass uses an overhead display to let drivers know where they are and what's coming up down the road.

"It's a low cost navigation system," says Alan Hughes, engineering manager, advanced electronics interiors for JCI. "We want to have a navigation system on a (main stream sedan)."

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It works with a driver downloading information about the area where they are traveling onto a multi-media card which is the inserted into the system. GPS tracks the vehicle's location while the system uses a database to identify area information. The overhead console then displays a variety of information including nearby addresses, cross streets and upcoming restaurants, gas stations and hotels.

While a navigation system would cost about $2,000, the Point of Interest Compass will cost about $500 depending on options, Hughes says.

JCI has not signed a contract on the system. While it acknowledges there is some aftermarket potential for the system, Hughes says, "we want an OEM."

Automotive Industry

Affordable guidance: JCI's point of interest compass directs for a lot less - Supply Side - Johnson Controls Inc - Brief Article

Automotive Industries, Dec, 2002 by Andrea Wielgat

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