Convergence 2002 Technology on display

Driver distraction will be among the many vehicle electronics subjects explored at this biennial conference, where OEMs and suppliers exhibit their latest technologies on the show floor and in technical sessions.

Two forces involving information management inside the vehicle are pulling the automotive industry in opposite directions, according to Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI), with driver distraction and cost reduction at the center of the divide.

“What we're seeing is the expansion of information content within the vehicle, and what we're facing is a challenge to ensure that, as all of this new information comes into the vehicle, it's presented to the driver in a way that ensures safe operation of the vehicle,” said Jim Geschke, Vice President of Electronics Integration at JCI's automotive unit. “If there is no strong focus on human factors thinking, you could create some safety compromises, and we're working hard to avoid that.”