IOT's Possibility

When we talk about Internet of Things (IOT) in Japan, many people expect to apply it for the electricity management (Smart Home) or the traffic management (Smart Cars). I would like to introduce a possible case in terms of Smart Cars which would be realized in the near future.

In 2011, we had heavy earthquake in very vast area in east Japan. Immediately after the earthquake, most of people wanted to go the devastated area to help the people, but it was difficult because lots of roads in almost all Tohoku area were damaged.

But in the next day of the earthquake, Honda posted very useful traffic map on the web which showed which route we could go. It was very helpful not only for many people who went toward devastated area, but also for victims who escaped from that area.

 In fact, it was based on Honda's location based services. Honda has offered that kind of services around 10 years and has been collecting the traffic data from their registered users. So, it could show the route someone went through after the eathquake. Furthermore, they had experience tring to use this data to show which route could be gone through after the Niigata Chuetsu earthquake in 2007. So it could offer the maps earlier than others after the earthquake in 2011. After the release of the Honda's maps, the 3 companies including Toyota, Nissan, and Pioneer,car navigation maker, offered their data, and maps became more helpful.    


So now I think, if all the cars had the communication tools and interact each other, many traffic problems including heavy jam would be solved. Automobile companies have already had the technology to achieve that world. The last but not least obstacle would be the cost and the competition. This is not the problem of technology, but the problem of marketing. I think we will solve the problem, but the question is how long does it take. 5 years, 10 years or more? I hope this will be realized at least within 10 years. Too pessimistic? What do you think?

http://world.honda.com/news/2011/c111109Good-Design-Awards/index.html