Today's consumers are increasingly comfortable with technology and have increasing expectations about the electronics in their cars, according to organizers of Convergence 2008 (Oct. 20-22 at Cobo Center in Detroit).

They say it is no longer beneficial to simply offer an extensive array of electronic features. Features must serve a true need and be easy to use. Features that are overly complex even for technically savvy drivers are disregarded out-of-hand, and ease-of-use is where manufacturers will find a competitive advantage. Making sure that electronic features are user-friendly will be the focus of Convergence 2008.

Seminars at the bi-annual conference include:

· Human Machine Interface;
· The Connected Vehicle;
· Targeting Consumer Needs in the Perfect Storm;
· Product Development in a Global Environment, Today and in the Future, and
· The Need for Standards in the Automotive World.

Chrysler vice chairman and president Jim Press will be the featured speaker at the Convergence 2008 banquet Oct. 22. Andreas Schell, vice president of the electrical/electronics engineering core for Chrysler, will serve as general chairman of Convergence 2008.