As private automobiles are becoming a public necessity, cars are evolving to
satisfy people’s demands for safety and convenience with the development of IT
technology. One of the evolutions is the Telematics technology that provides
information and services to the driver using wireless communications. With
Telematics technology, drivers can enjoy a more pleasant, convenient and safe
driving experience with the ubiquitous environment applied to automobiles.
According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the number of
patent applications related to Telematics technology in Korea increased from 15
in 1994 to 372 in 2004, a growth ratio with an yearly average of 38%. This
drastic growth shows the activity of R&D of related technology and the
expansion of the market (See Attachment 1).
Looking at the Telematics
technology applied in automobiles more specifically, 47% of the applications
were related to ‘Infortainment (Information+ Entertainment),’ providing both
excitement and information to the driver. 33% of the applications were related
to safety features, 15% to the driver’s convenience, and 5% to other fields such
as communication technologies in and out of the automobile (See Attachment 2 and
3).
Some technologies used in the Infortainment field, which leads the
recent patent application trend, include directional guidance to a location or
parking lot, providing current traffic information, alerting the driver
regarding automobile diagnostic information, and providing entertainment such as
games or TV services to the driver.
The Telematics technology field in
Korea will continue to respond to the demands of drivers seeking a more
pleasant, convenient and safe driving experience. By applying electronic tags,
DMB services, and Wibro services, the field will provide a ubiquitous
environment with better quality to enhance the driving experience.
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