Java hits the
road
Wireless communication and the Internet promise to
transform the car into an 'Intelligent Networked Vehicle'
1 - PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA - In the not-too-distant
future, all vehicles will have their own websites. Vehicle service providers
(Not Garages!) will monitor individual cars and inform their drivers of needed
maintenance or repairs. Automobiles running low on fuel will communicate with
nearby eGasStations regarding price of petrol, available movies for
downloading, food services, etc.
2 - This is the scenario envisioned by Sun
Microsystems Chairman and Founder Scott McNealy, who views the car as a
"Java browser on wheels." He believes that the telematics industry
promises big revenue-generating possibilities for those suppliers who foresee,
and prepare for, the automobile's coming relationship with the Internet.
3 - To stimulate such thinking and demonstrate the
concept, Sun has launched two projects, linked together for the first time at
Covergence 2000, the biennial automotive electronics show held last autumn in
Detroit. (…)
The eGasStation.
4 - The Sun eGasStation project demonstrates how
the local petrol stop can act as a host for interactions with a Java-enabled
car.
5 - At the eGasStation, Java technology and the
Internet remotely monitor and control gas pumps, point-of-sale systems, and
other service station devices. The Java technology-based control system
communicates with the Java technology-enabled car via wireless access. A
web-browser shows automotive diagnostic status and information on the gas pump
display.
6 - Data downloads and uploads occur during
fueling. For example, a car's operating history can be downloaded to collect
operations and status information. Movies can be uploaded to the vehicle's
infotainment system from an eGasStation's server, keeping the children in the
back seat occupied during the trip.
7 - For the retailer, there are several benefits:
- Real-time knowledge of what gasoline products are
selling by location, for optimal product supply and distribution.
- Remote monitoring and maintenance of gasoline pumps.
- Inventory tracking.
- Sale of operating data to parts supplier and other third parties.
- Remote monitoring and maintenance of gasoline pumps.
- Inventory tracking.
- Sale of operating data to parts supplier and other third parties.
8 - A number of major petroleum companies are in
negotiations for evaluation of the technology at gas stations.
David Bak, Editor-in-Chief
February 2001 Global Design News page 21
February 2001 Global Design News page 21
Test Yourself
Answer the following questions:
Right or Wrong? (choose a button)
Soon your car will be connected to the Internet
Right Wrong
Mr McNealy thinks it will cost the telematics industry a lot of money ro build a real Java (= Internet) - connected car
Right Wrong
Petrol stations will interconnect with your car
Right Wrong
In addition to selling petrol, petrol stations will provide many other services
Right Wrong
Right Wrong
Mr McNealy thinks it will cost the telematics industry a lot of money ro build a real Java (= Internet) - connected car
Right Wrong
Petrol stations will interconnect with your car
Right Wrong
In addition to selling petrol, petrol stations will provide many other services
Right Wrong
Test
Yourself
§1 "Provider":
find a synonym in paragraph 2.
supplier
chairman
relationship
chairman
relationship
§2 A "vehicle service provider" is
a vehicle for service
providers
a person (or company) that provides services to vehicles
a service that is provided by a vehicle
a person (or company) that provides services to vehicles
a service that is provided by a vehicle
§3
"fuel":
refers to the
liquid that is used to power lorries or other heavy-duty engines
means a material like wood, petrol or coal that is burned to provide heat or energy
means a material like wood, petrol or coal that is burned to provide heat or energy
§4 "automobiles running low on fuel": Look for context at the end of the sentence. This phrase means:
some
automobiles consume very little fuel
these automobiles have little fuel left so that they have to go a service station to fill up
these automobiles have little fuel left so that they have to go a service station to fill up
§5 "the telematics industry promises big revenue-generating possibilities"
This market promises
it is possible to make big money
This market is full of promises( = opportunities) and it will certainly generate a lot of revenues
This market is full of money, so that and it will generate a lot of opportunities
This market is full of promises( = opportunities) and it will certainly generate a lot of revenues
This market is full of money, so that and it will generate a lot of opportunities
§6 "the local petrol stop can act…"
a- Spot the verbs
The verbs are:
The verbs are:
stop; can; act
can; act
can; act
b-
Consequently, the general meaning is "stopping at a local service station
can act …"
Yes
No
No
§7 " a Java-enabled car" means
a car that is allowed to
interact with Java technology
a car using Java technology enables the driver to do lots of things
a car that is able to use Java technology
a car using Java technology enables the driver to do lots of things
a car that is able to use Java technology
§8 " The Java technology-based control system" means
a system for controlling
which is based on Java technology
Java is a technology based on a control system
This technology is based on the control system made by Java
Java is a technology based on a control system
This technology is based on the control system made by Java
§9 "to occur" means:
to buy
to be done in a very short time
to happen, to take place
to be done in a very short time
to happen, to take place
§10
"fueling ":
the fact of
putting fuel into the car’s tank (= tanking)
the fact that the engine is running (= driving)
the fact that the engine is going faster (= accelerating)
the fact that the engine is running (= driving)
the fact that the engine is going faster (= accelerating)
