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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Le·o Simpson, B.Bus. Editor Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) PUBLISHER'S LE'I*I'ER Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Robert Flynn Darren Yates, B.Sc. Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Sharon Macdonald Sales & Marketing Mgr. Sharon Lightner Phone (02) 979 5644 Mobile phone (018) 28 5532 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Garry Cratt, VK2YBX Marque Crozman, VK2ZLZ John Hill Jim Lawler, MTETIA Bryan Maher, M.E., B.Sc. Jim Yalden, VK2YGY Bob Young Photography Stuart Bryce Editorial Advisory Panel Philip Watson , MIREE, VK2ZPW Norman Marks Steve Payor, B.Sc., B.E. SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 003 205 490. All material copyright©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Magazine Printers Pty Ltd, Alexandria, NSW; Macquarie Print, Dubbo, NSW. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $42 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Liability: Devices or circuits described in SILICON CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of any such equipment. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 1a/77-79 Bassett Street, Mona Vale, NSW 2103. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 979 5644. Fax (02) 979 6503. ISSN 1030-2662 2 SILICON CHIP Forecasting electronic developments in cars What is likely to be the next big application of electronics in cars? Electronic ignition is now standard on virtually all new cars and engine management systems are common on all except the cheaper 4-cylinder models. On more expensive cars, antiskid brakes are becoming common while in the United States the electronically triggered air-bag system is more or less standard, largely because that country has not legislated for compulsory seat belt wearing. But what is the next big development likely to be? Some pundits are forecasting that electronic navigation systems will be the go and a lot of developmental work has been done along these lines in Europe. But do the next big applications of electronics need to be so complex and expensive? In thinking about this topic, consider what could be done to make vehicles more economical. Engines have become much more efficient but at the same time, vehicles have become a great deal heavier. Partly this is due to the use of more glass, more sound deadening and more electric motors to drive accessories. Well, how about this as a suggestion? Eliminate the rear window entirely and substitute a video camera and small screen on the dash - possibly this could double for the electronic navigation system when that comes into use. By eliminating the rear vision window there would be a considerable saving in weight, not only due to getting rid of the glass (which is much heavier than sheet steel) but also the ancillaries such as demister wiring, washer, reservoir and wipers and their motors and wiring (in the case of hatchbacks). And let's not forget the internal rear vision mirror itself. This could go and thus eliminate a dangerous blind spot for tall drivers. There would be other benefits too. The car interior would stay cooler and there would be less load on the air-conditioning. The resulting rear vision would probably be better in most cars than it is now, obstructed as it often is by head restraints, passengers and the shape of the car body itself. And it would probably make parking easier too. Would people go for it? My guess is that it would depend on how the stylists approached it. A car without a rear window coulq look incongruous because we have been so used to seeing it there but remember that the first cars had only very small windows or no rear window at all. Anyway this idea is not really new and was tried as an experiment during the sixties. But then video gear was cumbersome and not as reliable as it is now. Today's minuscule CCD cameras-would be ideal for the task. It's intriguing, isn't it? And it's all possible, right now. Leo Simpson