Expanded use of computer technology, development of stronger and lighter materials, and research on pollution control will produ

Expanded use of computer technology, development of stronger and lighter materials, and research on pollution control will produce better, "smarter" automobiles./In the 1980s the notion that a car would" talk" to its driver was science fiction; by the 1990s it had become reality./Onboard navigation was one of the new automotive technologies in the 1990s./By using the satellite-aided global positioning system (GPS), a computer in the automobile can pinpoint the vehicle’s location within a few feet./The onboard navigation system uses an electronic compass, digitized maps, and a display screen showing where the vehicle is relative to the destination the driver wants to reach./After being told the destination, the computer locates it and directs the driver to it, offering alternative routes if needed./Some cars now come equipped with GPS locator beacons, enabling a GPS system operator to locate the vehicle, map its location/and, if necessary, direct repair or emergency workers to the scene./