Taking the Idea of "Mobile Printing" to an Extreme
Doc is a big fan of taking technology on the road, but I’m not sure how I feel about turning your car into a full-blown computer terminal, including the ability to print right from the dashboard. But that’s exactly what Ford is doing with some of its new vehicles. Check out this video tour of the new computer capabilities inside the cab of a prototype Ford truck:
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ZDNet introduces Doc (The DocuMentor), sponsored by RICOH. Through his blog, Doc will educate you about Document Management. So who is Doc? Doc is something of an enigma. He was born to a Russian ballerina and a German electrical engineer who some believe was running covert operations for shadowy corporate interests. Doc grew up in various locations in the United States, although no one seems to know precisely where, least of all Doc. His early schooling was unremarkable except for the time he was caught trying to replace all the mimeograph machines with high-tech color copiers that had mysteriously disappeared from a shipment to Albania. At MIT, he made a name for himself by transforming a large printer into a robot that hunts and eats Roombas. Professionally, he reportedly has seen the insides of more brands, versions, and generations of printer and printer-related hardware than almost anyone. Some say his obsession with paper, printing, and mechanical movement was either started by, or evidenced by, a traumatic childhood episode when he crawled inside an old Xerox 2400 and tried to print himself.
Anyway, Doc has hands on experience with stuff like printer maintenance and fleet management, but his mastery of document management leaves no stone unturned. Important issues like sustainability, security, and regulatory compliance are top of mind for Doc, as are other business technology needs like networking and IT services, making him a true blue IT renaissance man.
Talkback Most Recent of 13 Talkback(s)
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Dashboard Computer
Great Idea, (I love the Garmin Navigation system) BUT... I see it as one more thing that people will use INSTEAD of watching the road. If they don't LOCK-OUT all functionality except navigation and radio/music unless it is in PARK, this will account for many more fatalities.
portable@...19th Apr 2010 -
RE: Taking the Idea of
@portable@... Thanks a million. hermes replica replica hermes bags hermes bags
3shao19th Sep -
RE: Taking the Idea of
I think any such diversion, while making life more convenient for the mobile warrior, should be installed in the back seat or rear of the vehicle. People have already demonstrated an inability to maintain driving focus and talk on cell phones, so how on earth do we expect them to handle multitasking like this? We forget - a vehicle can become a 2000 pound weapon on our roads. Let's respect people's lives more than getting a few extra tasks done.
wkservices21st Apr 2010 -
Automated mayhem
Honestly, just get a laptop. It's got a bigger screen and it gets more done. This is one of those gee whiz marketing ideas that will turn out to kill people by the hundreds. Seriously, people can't talk and drive let alone surf the web and print documents and drive. What is Ford thinking?
david@...22nd Apr 2010 -
RE: Taking the Idea of "Mobile Printing" to an Extreme
I think all of us who have responded are more or less in agreement - the basic theory is on target but the reality suggests this is just a deathtrap waiting to be sprung. The lockout feature has to exist.
WiLoInc26th Apr 2010 -
RE: Taking the Idea of
Don't expect Ford or any other auto company to install a lock-out feature, or expect users/drivers to use this system responsibly, unless they are forced to. As much as I dislike government regulation, without it we would have vehicles with bumpers at all different heights, different colored brake lights, no seat belts, etc. After all, it took a law to get many of us to wear seatbelts regularly.
pfister@...27th May 2010 -
What a stupid idea.
Get a wireless laptop or notebook.
mileswade16th Jun 2010 -
RE: Taking the Idea of
Gives a whole new meaning to "system crash" and "blue (windscreen) of death".
Mah3rd Jul 2010 -
I'm sure ink in the Inkjet will last all of one day in the sun heated cab.
Should be a laser or dry transfer.
Reality Bites4th Aug 2010 -
Homeless solutions
Helps solve the problems of the homeless... a growing market apparently.
alanlawson16th Sep 2010 -
Mobile printing not processing.
I support laptop users spread across the country. They need to be able to print from their laptops. We are having trouble finding a solution. And yes, you certainly wouldn't want it on the dashboard. For us, something in the trunk might suffice.
John.M.Thompson@...19th Aug -
RE: Taking the Idea of
Seems like everyone is in agreement that more distractions in the car are a bad thing. We've already got too many reasons not to keep our eyes on the road. Thanks for all the comments and drive safely!
DocuMentor (Doc)13th Dec -
RE: Taking the Idea of
we like to see innovation and creativity for more convenience in our lives, but we all agree that such features should be forbidden as lives of innocent on the roads are priceless.
hyaghi23rd Jan
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