The Consumerization of Mobility

With the pending market saturation of the smartphone looming, and the emergence of connected vehicles, peer-to-peer resource management, crowdsourcing and the implementation of collaborative platforms, one could easily surmise that the “consumerization” of significant components of Next-Gen Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is well underway. What is not exactly clear is what the landscape will look like during the transition, as well as when consumerization is firmly rooted.

It’s clear that public mobility managers will continue to provide certain services to their constituents for the foreseeable future, however  it is expected that some existing services will be provisioned through consumerization. Consumerization will also give rise to entirely new service needs. New areas of expertise will be required for data and information management, systems management and X2X networks, to name just a few. Will consumerization lead to less strain on agency coffers? Or will it simply generate new needs equal to or greater than existing financial burdens? We’ll take deeper dives on these issues in coming posts.

References and Resources
http://blog.gardeviance.org/2011/03/consumerization.html

Traffic Signal System Operations via Smartphone Technologies

Mobile technologies are supporting the development of new traffic management applications that are drastically changing traditional traffic management system architectures. What once seemed several years out is now showing early signs of first-generation deployments, with beta applications and system field trials already underway. 2011 has seen the emergence of several traffic management applications focused on the use of personal computing devices for sourcing traffic data and feeding new traffic management central software applications. In addition, new applications have also emerged this year that plan and manage traffic flows without directly interfacing with existing signal timing software.

An early entrant is being developed by researchers at Princeton and MIT, which bases signal operations and route planning on visual data collected and processed by vehicle-based smartphones. SignalGuru utilizes dash-mounted smartphones and video analytics to detect and process signal traffic signal indications via Green Light Optimal Speed Advisory (GLOSA) . The new application is considered “passive” in that it does not directly interface or manage signal timing and signal system operations.

Siemens has commenced with testing of a new smartphone-based pilot project installed for 400 signalized intersections in Harris County (Houston), Texas. The system utilizes Bluetooth readers and a new central application to measure traffic flow and traffic densities, then utilizes a central application to modify signal timing parameters. This form of traffic management via smartphone technologies is considered “active” as the application actually interfaces with, modifies and manages the central traffic management software.

References and Resources
Siemens (Active)
http://www.siemens.com/innovation/apps/pof_microsite/_pof-spring-2011/_html_en/traffic-systems.html
SignalGuru (Passive)
http://www.princeton.edu/~ekoukoum/SignalGuru.html

The Fragmentation of Computing Systems and the Potential Impact on Next-Gen ITS

There is no question that the recent emergence and rapid penetration of mobile computing devices has facilitated evolutionary leaps in innovation, including the provision of next-gen ITS solutions.  However, a by-product of this rapid technology-shift has consequently included the emergence of multiple mobile operating systems (iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows, etc), and multiple mobile hardware form factors (smartphones, tablets, personal navigation devices and cloud-based computers such as Google’s CR-48).   The rapid shift to mobile computing has also included the emergence of new supporting client-based software applications (apps) that operate on the aforementioned operating systems and hardware devices.  As a result, the quick emergence of the mobile computing platform has fragmented computing and the services reliant on today’s computing platforms.  The following chart partially illustrates the issue.

As previously noted, mobile computing hardware has also splintered over the past few years.  New hardware platforms such as smartphones and tablets, in addition to traditional (yet diminishing) computing platforms such as the desktop and laptop have implemented multiple computing ecosystems.  In addition, the OS that operates these multiple platforms is also showing signs of additional fragmentation, as illustrated in the following chart.

Early Affects

The splintering of computing systems has caused a significant cost and complexity problem for solutions developers, as well as confusion on the end-users part, thus greatly hindering solutions-providers  the ability to implement rapid deployment of transportation solutions that cover a majority of the consumer (traveler) and operator market.  As is the case with most industries, fragmentation runs the risk of re-instituting significant barriers and system silos for transportation solutions.  In addition, fragmentation is greatly enhancing the potential for security vulnerabilities.

We’ve Been Down This Road

The early days of computing was also fragmented, built from a number of operating systems and computing hardware platforms.  Unix, DOS, Windows and Mac all provided OS to the infant computing industry.  However, over time the industry consolidated most of the primary components, including operating systems and hardware, implementing a period of stability (calm) from around 1995 to 2005.  During this period, Windows OS and PC-based hardware provided for most of all mainstream computing.

The question remains, will the re-fragmentation of computing have a long-term limiting affect on ITS?  Natural attrition and business competition will provide some degree of defragmentation over the coming years, but to what degree remains to be seen.  For example, should the Android OS continue to outpace iOS in growth rate, we could potentially see a quicker, more cohesive return to a defragmented computing model.  In addition, the industry is beginning to show signs of coming together to develop some form of open standards that will aid in the unification of platforms.

Update on Augmented Reality Apps for Intelligent Transportation Systems

Augmented reality applications mesh internet resources, location data and user interface technologies to generate enhanced, or “augmented” informational streams over the top of physical, real-world environments.  Vehicle augmented reality technologies can be delivered through a number of various user interfaces, including smart phones, dashboards, and most recently through windshield projections.

In this post I’d like to refine the discussion and take a look at today’s smart phone based applications, and consider the future potential of these types of mobile applications (or lack thereof) and their integration with the vehicle environment.

Early winners in the vehicle augmented reality (AR) apps arena were centered on vehicle mechanics and vehicle maintenance.  These applications provide an informational overlay (static) that is projected over vehicle components, including engine compartments, transmissions other mechanical components.  The overlay provides assistance in identifying parts, assistance with maintenance procedures and in some cases, preliminary equipment assessment and diagnosis.  This form of informational overlay has already proven to be a successful use of the mobile web and the use of smart phone technologies.

Driver assistance AR apps (dynamic) provide a myriad of features related to operating a vehicle within its real-time, real world environment.  These types of apps can provide significant benefits with regards assisting drivers with warning and notifications, as well as providing driver assistance with regards to real-time environment awareness.

Mobile AR apps have also been developed to provide real-time navigational assistance.  The apps provide an overlay detailing the intended route, as well as real-time information regarding local conditions and general localized information.

As anticipated, the use of AR for driver assistance and navigation is proving to be a complex issue.  Many technical and safety experts have debated safety-related concerns regarding the use of these apps while operating a motor vehicle.  The thought of adding another device to the driver’s informational processing requirements will add significantly to potential distractions.  However, some vehicle AR app vendors as well as some technical professionals have countered that the latest generation of these apps has lessened the overall distraction elements, and are even less distracting than normal operations of a motor vehicle, because they alleviate the need to glance at the vehicles dashboard.

Many questions remain regarding the use and format of vehicle AR apps. Will the platform find a long-term home on the smart phone, or will the vehicle ultimately end up integrating these features as standard equipment.  The smart phone market experiences technology upgrades and every 12-18 months.  This allows the mobile market to implement new technology features at a rapid pace. The development of applications based on new technology feature is also occurring at a lightning pace, and draws on a world of application developers.  In contrast, technology enhancements in the auto industry can take significantly longer time.   The best example is the seat belt.  It took the auto industry approximately 10 years to agree on technical specifications for the standard seat belt.   In addition, traditional auto-based software development is relatively slower, and is generated from a much smaller, yet highly focused number of developers.