This week, TV Asahi's business documentary series, "The Dawn of Gaia" (Tue., 10 p.m.), looks at the past, present and future of automobile navigation systems, which have become an indispensable part of motoring in Japan.
"Car navi" systems are based on Global Positioning System technology using satellites, which was one of the few commercial outcomes of the so-called Star Wars development project promoted by the Reagan administration as part of the Cold War arms race. The technology was commercialized rapidly in Japan because of the country's complicated road system.
Last year 3.1 million systems were installed, and the program focuses on Pioneer, which has the largest share of the ever-growing market. Most of the new developments are in the software field, especially maps that are more detailed and accurate. To that end, Pioneer's engineers are trying to develop more usable 3D-imaging features.