The long-awaited
DASH car navigation devices will soon hit store shelves and the promise of shared, live traffic data
will soon be in consumers hands -- or rather their cars, guiding them around traffic tie ups and obstacles that other DASH-using drivers have already encountered and relayed back through the live data system.
DASH Navigation's two-way navigation devices relay information via GPRS to and from a central computer that collects speed and location data from each user's car, then computes a live, up-to-the-minute picture of what the traffic situation is in a certain area. (GPRS is typically utilized by mobile phones to send and receive SMS messages and data for WAP browsers, a mobile phone version of an Internet browser.)
DASH goes well beyond the current traffic guidance systems already used by in-car GPS makers, which compute historical traffic data (such as average speeds and rush hour changes). Some GPS devices also receive an RDS-TMC (Radio Data System Traffic Message Channel), which in many metro areas collates live traffic conditions through
the ClearChannel system. Typically an RDS-TMC receiver adds about $100 to the price of a GPS device. Also, the information over RDS-TMC requires lots of human input and interpretation. DASH's system is more automated.
The DASH Express device doesn't just receive traffic information, but also acts as a transmitter, sending out constant information about its own situation on the road. This means the more DASH Express units that are deployed in a certain region the better the traffic information will be. According to our friends over at
Engadget, who have put the new DASH Express through its paces already, the device and the traffic monitoring system work exceptionally well.
Traffic conditions along the routes they were traveling were reflected in the actual driving experience. While many traffic information services are good at helping navigate main highways and thoroughfares, the DASH system also lends itself to making your way through local streets. As long as a few cars with the DASH Express are on the road in your area, you should get up-to-date information. Plus, the information you and fellow DASH-using drivers gather is saved and integrated into the historical traffic data. So, in a sense, this is a system that is constantly getting smarter.
The company says consumers should not be worried about being monitored on the road or tracked by authorities. All data gathered will be anonymized and aggregated, so "Big Brother" can't snag you if you happen to be speeding or driving erratically.
The DASH Express also comes with a live Internet connection to Yahoo! Local search. Plus, you can send address information from Microsoft Outlook or a Web browser straight to your device -- or even have someone else do it for you if you're already on the road. Also, when new maps come out, the device is automatically updated via the GPRS signal.
What's the downside? According to Engadget, it's the initial price of $399 plus the monthly $13 fee required to receive the traffic data and local information. Even with a two-year service commitment, which drops the monthly fee down to $10, it adds up to a $640 initial outlay.
DASH's traffic solution has been the talk of many tech types for more than a year now while the company has been conducting tests near its Sunnyvale, Calif., home base. Now that its really on the market it will be interesting to see how many people decide to spring for this capable new device.
The
DASH Express is shipping this week.
From
Engadget.
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