Technology hits the road with cars that surf the Net and give directions.
And he of all people should know where he's headed. Ohnishi is the president of Navitime Japan, which is one of more than 20 Japanese companies out to capture a chunk of the onboard navigation system market for cars. As automotive computing power grows, systems telling drivers where they are and how to get where they want to go will probably be one of the hottest automobile accessories around. But in cars, it's a different story. Giant automakers have their own proprietary systems, and other manufacturers and brands including heavyweights like Panasonic, Pioneer and Alpine are fighting for a spot in the crowded marketplace.