telematics

The science of combining telecommunications and computers to control the electronic and mechanical functions in automobiles. Common telematics applications include safety and navigation features as well as wireless access to the Web.

As stated above, telematics is most widely known as the technology that wirelessly connects the electronics in a vehicle to external hardware, usually GPS satellites. The role of telematics will expand to allow music to download directly to a car stereo through a wireless broadband connection. In fact, the Consumer Electronics Association predicts that the future of telematics lies in entertainment -- TV, movies and games piped into the car wirelessly.