The Vehicular Ad-Hoc Network, or VANET, is a technology that uses moves cars as nodes in a network to create a mobile network. VANET turns every participating car into a wireless router or node, allowing cars approximately 100 to 300 meters of each other to connect and, in turn, create a network with a wide range. As cars fall out of the signal range and drop out of the network, other cars can join in, connecting vehicles to one another so that a mobile Internet is created. It is estimated that the first systems that will integrate this technology are police and fire vehicles to communicate with each other for safety purposes.
Advantages of VANET:
VANET offers countless benefits to organizations of any size. Automobile high speed Internet access would transform the vehicle’s on-board computer from a nifty gadget to an essential productivity tool, making virtually any web technology available in the car. While such a network does pose certain safety concerns (for example, one cannot safely type an email while driving), this does not limit VANET’s potential as a productivity tool. It allows for “dead time”—time that is being wasted while waiting for something—to be transformed into “live time”—time that is being used to accomplish tasks. A commuter can turn a traffic jam into a productive work time by having his email downloaded and read to him by the on-board computer, or if traffic slows to a halt, read it himself. While waiting in the car to pick up a friend or relative, one can surf the Internet.
Disadvantages of VANET:
While the Internet can be a useful productivity tool, it can also prove to be quite distracting, resulting in safety and actually time-wasting concerns. Like cellular phones, the Internet can be tempting and can distract users from the road. Checking emails, surfing the web or even watching YouTube videos can engross drivers and lead to accidents.
Similarly, while drivers may have the opportunity to do work while on the road, they also may use this opportunity to engage in other leisurely tasks, such as VoIP with family, watch news highlights or listen to podcasts.