Multimedia for road commuters?

Road passengers in the UAE could soon enjoy airline-style in-seat entertainment through a wireless technology called Media On Demand (MOD) system, to be showcased next month.

The MOD is a patented multimedia technology that supports up to 54 monitors in any vehicle simultaneously using a single server. This allows passenger to enjoy their own selection of movies, music, digital TV, video games and internet access.

Designed by Taiwanese company Funtoro, the system will be introduced to the commercial vehicles industry at the Commercial Vehicles Middle East exhibition, taking place from March 9 to 11 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Funtoro said MOD technology can be a real time-saver for executives travelling between meetings as their vehicle can serve as comprehensive mobile offices. Equipped with USB playback and internet access, the system allows passengers to send and receive files and to prepare presentations using Microsoft Office software such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint.

For bus operators and fleet managers, MOD can integrate with other telematics and communications systems such as Wifi, bluetooth and GPS, providing real-time information on traffic, weather and the status and location of vehicles, optimising fleet management.

Arthur Huang, Vice-President of Funtoro, said: "As a leader in entertainment and telematics solutions for vehicles, our mission is to create an intelligent vehicle which not only provides top class entertainment and the latest in mobile communication, but also maximises car safety and environmental protection. The Middle East is one of our major markets and Commercial Vehicles Middle East is a great opportunity for us to meet potential customers and widen brand awareness in this region."

Though designed for commercial vehicles such as buses, taxis and metro railway systems, the system is suitable for passenger cars and vans, and can be upgraded to support hundreds of monitors on a train.

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