[originaltext] Expanded use of computer technology, development of stronger

Expanded use of computer technology, development of stronger and lighter materials, and research on pollution control will produce better, "smarter" automobiles./In the 1980s the notion that a car would" talk" to its driver was science fiction; by the 1990s it had become reality./Onboard navigation was one of the new automotive technologies in the 1990s./By using the satellite-aided global positioning system (GPS), a computer in the automobile can pinpoint the vehicle’s location within a few feet./The onboard navigation system uses an electronic compass, digitized maps, and a display screen showing where the vehicle is relative to the destination the driver wants to reach./After being told the destination, the computer locates it and directs the driver to it, offering alternative routes if needed./Some cars now come equipped with GPS locator beacons, enabling a GPS system operator to locate the vehicle, map its location/and, if necessary, direct repair or emergency workers to the scene./