IBM smart car - an office on wheels

You still have to keep your hands on the steering wheel, brake and accelerate when needed, but that is about all you need to do in the IBM smart car on show at Gitex 2001.

The smart car - a Porsche Boxster equipped with software to carry out e-business transactions - is a prototype at the moment.

But the time when we see cars like this cruising up and down Sheikh Zayed Road might not be too far away, says Khaled Sherif, regional sales manager, software solutions, IBM.

The smart car is basically a "mobile office on four wheels," explained Sherif as he pointed out the perks of the car.

"You can do anything from this car including check, read and send e-mails," he said. "And you can do all this with your voice - this is important because you are driving so you cannot type or look at the screen."

The car's climate can be controlled and indicators turned on just by the use of voice. And wireless technology can be used to close the sunroof, turn the lights on or off, and switch the airconditioning on, even when the driver is not in the car.

When the car is low on fuel, it can sense the need and a global positioning system directs the driver to the nearest petrol station.

According to Sherif, this technology can be adapted to any new car and it is up to the customer as to what services they want.

In the future, it will be possible to use the technology in the car to activate services in the "smart home," said Sherif. "It is all about mobility and what you can do."

IBM was not able to specify on prices for such technology, but estimates entry levels would start from Dh15,000.