| The automobile has been changing for decades | | | | traffic situation on the road ahead making it easy |
| now. As technology advances, so does the | | | | for drivers to plot their course to avoid |
| number of advanced features used on | | | | traffic-congested roads. All these systems rely on |
| automobiles. Today's vehicles are now equipped | | | | satellite Global Positioning System or GPS to |
| with technologically advanced features designed to | | | | operate effectively. |
| make new vehicles safer and easier to drive | | | | Today, there are two broad categories when it |
| compared to the vehicles of yesteryears. And | | | | comes to navigation systems. These are urban |
| just recently, another breakthrough was made in | | | | and off-road. Urban navigation systems are those |
| connection with automotive technologies. | | | | displaying data like street banes, city names and |
| Columbus Geographic System Ltd. announced | | | | are called based on vectors. Off-road maps on |
| recently that they are in the process of | | | | the other hand are essentially scanned maps. |
| developing a first-in-the-world technology. This | | | | Columbus' navigation system being developed put |
| particular navigation system will display not only | | | | a lot of focus on the off-road driving environment. |
| urban maps but also off-road maps too without | | | | But this navigation system called the Ranger will |
| the consumer having to choose a different | | | | not only display off-road maps but also urban |
| software or memory card. When launched in the | | | | maps. According to the company, aerial maps will |
| market, it is expected to be well-received by | | | | be provided by the software to the driver to |
| consumers who have been educated on the | | | | guide him or her through urban or off-road |
| benefits of a good navigation system. | | | | environments. The company is expecting to have |
| Navigation systems are software designed | | | | the new software ready by the first quarter of |
| specifically to give drivers different information | | | | 2008. No price is set yet for the navigation |
| that they might need while driving through | | | | system but it will certainly cost more than an |
| unfamiliar streets. These systems can pinpoint the | | | | Acura CL A/C receiver drier. |
| location of their vehicles and can also show the | | | | |