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As a gear head and somewhat of a geek, the idea of a fully integrated and “open” navigation/communications/vehicle management system has always been very appealing to me. I should explain what I mean by “open” and “integrated”. GPS receivers have become commonplace not only in adventure sports but even in family minivans; however, these systems generally rely on proprietary technology that is not compatible with devices from other manufacturers.

Take our Garmin GPSMAP 276C, which we have affectionately named Viki due to its seductive yet businesslike electronic voice that reminded us of the rogue computer of the same name appearing the film “I, Robot”. This is a great unit, loaded with features, compact, with a high resolution screen and automatic routing capability. Furthermore, this unit offers different modes for operation in boats, cars and off-road allowing us to satisfy all our navigation needs with one unit. The unit even has some connectivity to other devices through NMEA interfaces and can function as a depth sounder with an optional module. (Unfortunately, the module is more expensive than many depth finders so it doesn’t make much sense to squeeze both functions into the tiny screen unless console space is severely limited.)

The problem is that the 276C, like all Garmin units, uses the propriety MapSource® mapping software. In preparation for our European campervan trip, we purchased the MapSource® CD for Europe; however, we were taking an Apple computer with us on the trip and the software was not compatible with that platform. (Note: I was told by Helge Pedersen of GlobRiders® at Morton’s BMW open house last year that Garmin now has a MacOS version of the MapSource® software. I have not confirmed this myself but it is great news for Mac fanatics.) We resorted to running VirtualPC and connecting the unit to the PowerBook using a serial cable through a USB converter. As you can read on our Europe 2005 journal, this solution was less than ideal as it was extremely slow and the unit could not automatically re-calculate routes loaded through serial if we strayed off-course.

Furthermore, MapSource® data is not available for all areas of the globe (such as Japan) and, because the map data is in a proprietary format, we cannot buy maps from a different company. One can create custom maps and there are some website that sell custom maps compatible with Garmin for Japan. The problem is that these maps will not have the same features as the full-fledged MapSource® maps. Like our MacOS connectivity solution, custom maps are kludgy and will probably just cause trouble on the road.

The current trend in consumer navigation electronics is towards integration as manufacturers build in capability for their products to communicate with one another and offer new features such as the ability to display satellite weather data. Some units even display satellite imagery, such as the Lowrance iWay 600C and Northstar’s 972 Chartplotter. The problem is that most of these units will connect only to equipment from the same manufacturer. Standards such as NMEA 0183 allow equipment to exchange navigation data; however, in all but the more expensive high end systems, the interface between the sensors and the displays remain proprietary. This means that, even if devices can network using NMEA 0183, you’ll still end up with a bunch of extra display screens that may not show the big picture.

Maptech®, a company better known for its mapping software, has recently entered the consumer marine electronics arena and is trying to create an integrated touch screen command system. This system is close to the ideal multi-purpose and user-friendly systems I would like to see (though a lot more expensive): a single screen that presents the operator with data from all the vehicle’s sensors as well data received from external sources via radio and satellite links. The system also has the capability to play DVDs thus doubling as an entertainment center, as well connect to a PC to download routes created at home.

As great as this system is, it is still somewhat “closed” since it does not seem to allow execution of third-party software. I would love to see a Windows or Linux based system that would allow for running of applications such as Google™ Earth as well as web browsing, email and even wireless data transfer between home and vehicle systems.

I know… I know… I’m probably asking for too much here. Electronics manufacturers are in business to make money and don’t care very much about “open” solutions. In addition, these systems are marketed towards owners of larger yachts (the Maptech® system alone is $12K). An “open” architecture would mostly benefit operators of smaller craft most of whom don’t want the level of “connectedness” that such systems offer.

In spite of this, I would argue that manufacturers would ultimately benefit from jumping on the open architecture bandwagon early. As electronics technologies become available to more and more people, customers will come to expect and even demand more integration from their products. Additionally, as we have seen from the development of open-source technologies in the computer world, this approach allows companies to remain on the cutting edge of innovation and not become stagnant. Until companies realize the value of open technologies, I will keep looking for a way to integrate Google Maps with my Garmin GPS.