Multimodal PDA interfaces to assist drivers in monitoring their vehicles

In this paper we present a new hardware/software solution, which allows users to easily interact with their cars' components through the OBD-II system. We propose a multimodal interface for PDAs supporting vocal and graphical commands. Our aim is to provide a safe and usable way to access the sensed engine data and vehicular status while driving. The retrieved information, which can be presented through different modalities, is used to alert the driver about some events, such as surpassing the speed limit.