The German carmaker BMW recently introduced its new “talking car” at the Cebit computer fair in Hanover, Germany. The “talking car” is a BMW 3-Series convertible fitted with an auto dialogue system called TALK, and is designed to read real-time traffic updates and suggest alternative routes to avoid traffic jams. The onboard computer system reads traffic information from 10,000 traffic detectors spread throughout German motorways, and the TALK system offers drivers alternative routes according to traffic conditions. The TALK system is a Europe-wide research project and is regarded as being able to deliver traffic information much faster than radio traffic updates. BMW is also developing other navigation related car features, and has been offering in Germany a navigation system in cooperation with Google maps. According to BMW, German motorists spend an average of 70 hours per year in traffic jams.