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"Itinera", navigation software made in Italy
Rome - (Ign) - The original idea was to propose new infotelematic systems for the car industry and to solve two problems at the same time: cost and product development. This is what led to the creation of Lct Infotelematics (www.lctinfotelematics.com), a young company from Piedmont established in early 2005 as an infotelematic spin-off of the Prototipo group from Turin, which for years has been one of the Italian leaders in industrial design and process innovation. Together with the company, the Pocket Driver and Itinera line of products was also launched, designed to overcome the obstacles which have so far slowed down the development and diffusion of infotelematic car systems.
The fact is that the life cycle of a vehicle and that of electronic systems are extremely different. In the space of a few years, rigid infotelematic systems initially installed on a car become obsolete. A different system had to be invented, which could evolve over time, cost relatively little, and could be personalised in function of the customers needs. This led to the idea developed by the Lct Infotelematics technicians of developing products able to use pre-existing IT systems and available software platforms, integrated by means of Web connectivity with portals and service centres. The move from idea to finished product was extremely short. There are three basic elements in the line of Lct Infotelematics products. Firstly, Pocket Driver, the software designed for users in movement, typically in cars, which makes it possible to maintain a constantly open connection with the nearest service centre. The program has been designed to be used safely even when driving, and functions on all Pocket Digital Assistants and Smartphones which operate using the Windows Mobile platform. The second link in the chain is the Pocket Driver Server, the application used in the environment of Web portals or service centres, which allows all kinds of information to be exchanged with users: localisation, routes and vehicle diagnosis. The third element is the Pocket Driver Link, the hardware component which makes it possible to connect the apparatus on which Pocket Driver is working with the car's electronics, in order to optimise energy consumption and onboard functions.
But the Pocket Driver will have a new addition to the family in the coming months, no longer designed for private company fleets or for public service networks (from buses to ambulances, civil protection and public order). It is called Itinera, and was presented at the latest edition of SMAU, the major electronics show in Milan, and will be launched on the market in spring. This is a consumer navigation software, designed for the mass market, which may be provided together with GPS systems, any Pocket Digital Assistant, or even on a CD to be installed on any hardware with a Windows CE operating system. Itinera has a whole range of integrated functions, from maps and the possibility of searching for precise locations, to an extremely up-to-date and extensive atlas including most of Eastern Europe, a route calculation system and an interface which makes it possible to use the system without the small stylus usually supplied with palm tops. The challenge launched by Lct Infotelematics is to move onto a global market, starting in Europe but aiming in the future at further expansion, thanks to continuous research and development to keep the Itinera and Pocket Driver products constantly up-to-date.
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