Now, researchers at Volkswagen of America Inc. and Google Inc. think they've found a better way to build navigation systems using wireless access, real-time data collection and on-board displays that include photos, 3-D images and touchpad keyboards. The goal is to give drivers information that can be updated continuously rather than having them rely on DVDs -- which can go out of date quickly and have to be replaced regularly with updated disks.

'They don't give you dynamic information,' said Arne Stoschek, director of displays, sensors and materials at Volkswagen of America Inc.'s Electronic Research Lab in Palo Alto, Calif. Starting last year, Auburn Hills, Mich.-based VW of America began building prototype vehicles -- Stoschek wouldn't say how many -- that include real-time navigation systems.

Stoschek declined to say when the new systems might be available in production vehicles. 'We are pushing aggressively to bring it into our cars as soon as possible,' he said. 'Both VW and Google are fast-moving companies.'

The prototype system was shown off last month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It relies on high-bandwidth wireless access that can be provided using cellular or other wireless networks, and uses Google's online mapping services -- along with Google Search and Google Earth imagery capabilities, he said. 'It is real-time and we want to provide photo-realistic imagery instead of [DVD-based] symbolic maps, plus it is searchable. It's an exciting project.'

The prototype on-board navigation system includes a dashboard-mounted display that can show maps, photos and other images or be used as a touchscreen keyboard so drivers can enter starting point and destination data. Also included are buttons to instantly find gas stations, VW dealerships or other destinations along a route in real-time, Stoschek said. Test drivers can use the system to determine the cheapest fuel prices along the way, which are then displayed on the screen.