Most consumers are used to the ``Intel Inside'' sticker referring to personal computers. But if Intel Corp. and various companies associated with automobiles and consumer electronics have their way, the power of both a PC and advanced communications technologies will add to the horsepower in future new cars.
Intel is working with high-tech developers in the automotive, computer, consumer electronics, and communications industries to develop Pentium processor-based platforms that not only help car owners drive their vehicles and keep them safe, but entertain drivers and passengers alike.
Most of the software auto owners use on their home computers, including Internet applications and programs that have the ability to send and receive e-mail and faxes, would be used in the ``Intel Inside'' car, officials said. But car computing applications would stretch way beyond what a person could accomplish sitting at a desk chair at home, Intel said.
Cellular/GSM (global system for mobile telecommunications), global positioning system, and radio data broadcast (RDB) capabilities would let the driver navigate around traffic delays and through unfamiliar areas, place and receive phone calls, and access databases of personalized information, says a report carried by The Business Wire. Speech recognition could interact directly with the onboard PC to execute commands for PC and telephony applications.
Security also could be involved, with a computer telephony integration (CTI) application built into every car to report accidents, call for roadside assistance, and track stolen vehicles.
Too futuristic to believe? Well, says Ron J. Smith, vice president of Intel's Semiconductor Products Group: ``The basic technology that could enable these applications in the vehicle is here today.'' A foot-controlled PC mouse First there was the separate mouse, then the built-in mouse, then the touchpad mouse. But they all took fingertip control.
Now, comes a mouse you operate using two foot pedals. It's called, not surprisingly, Nohands Mouse, and it's from Hunter Digital, which claims you'll be more efficient by using their product.
How? Says Hunter: Since your hands don't have to leave the keyboard to use the mouse, you'll get more work done faster; you're less likely to get carpal tunnel syndrome, caused by repetitive strain on the wrist; the disabled will be better able to use a computer.
The mouse has a pair of 10-inch-long foot pedals. One is for moving the mouse, the other for clicking it.
It's available in some computer stores at a suggested retail price of $260, or for $200 via the company's Web site at http://www.footmouse.com Sega all-out for holidays Sega Enterprises has announced a goal of selling one million new Sega Saturn games during the coming holiday season in Japan. To do so, it is going to release 130 new titles, plus remaking the popular arcade game title ``Virtua Fighter 3'' for the 32-bit Saturn player.
Sega is being hard pressed in its native land by rival Sony's 32-bit PlayStation and Nintendo's cutting-edge 64-bit game player Nintendo 64, industry analysts say. Some say Sega may fail to achieve its annual sales target of 2.5 million players in the domestic market. Sega said it sold 1.2 million units of its Sega Saturns between April and October, raising the cumulative sales to 3.7 million since the player's launch in November 1994. Apple cybercafes are coming Apple Computers Inc. plans to open a series of cybercafes next year, with Los Angeles getting the first one, to be followed by New York, Paris, Tokyo and dozens of other major cities.
Its partner in the venture is Mega Bytes, a London developer of theme parks. The chain of cafes will allow patrons to use Macintosh computers to handle e-mail, surf the Internet, play games, and eat. It is known that Mega Bytes will run the restaurants, but terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Canada bans overnight junk fax The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has banned overnight junk faxes for the majority of Canadians.
Unsolicited faxes will be permitted only from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. ``With the growing presence of fax machines in Canadian homes, there have been many consumer complaints about the misuse of fax advertising,'' CRTC Chairwoman Francoise Bertrand said.
The restrictions apply to the areas served by British Columbia Telecom Inc. and BCEInc.'s Bell Canada -- essentially Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. The two companies had proposed the ban to the CRTC. Our cool Web site of the week You may by now have heard about the flap between Dr. Ruth and Mattel. If not, here it is: The famous sexologist is being sued by the toy manufacturer over the design of her Web site. Too close to their ``See 'N Say'' toys site design, they say. Probably jealous, too. Dr. Ruth's site experienced 1.2 million hits last month. If you want to see the Westheimer Sexnet site, try http://www.drruth.com
Compiled by William M. Dowd.
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