Computerized information presentation apparatus

Computer readable apparatus comprising at least one storage medium, said at least one storage medium comprising at least one computer program with a plurality of instructions, the computer readable apparatus being part of a computerized information system disposed on or within a personnel transport device configured to transport at least one person from one location to another, the computerized information system being configured to provide a user with desired information relating to a plurality of topical areas, including information relating to one or more business entities, said at least one program being configured to, when executed on a processing apparatus:

• receive a digitized representation of a speech input of the user of the transport device via a speech processing apparatus of the computerized information system, the speech input relating to a desired function to be performed by the computerized information system, the desired function relating to at least one of the topical areas;
• cause access of a remote server via at least a wireless interface in order to access information necessary to perform at least a portion of the desired function;
• receive accessed information obtained from the remote server via the wireless interface;
• and
• implement the desired function on the computerized information system using at least a portion of the received information and at least one of:
• (i) a display device of the computerized information system;
• and/or (ii) a speech synthesis apparatus of the computerized information system.

Computer readable apparatus comprising a storage medium, said storage medium comprising at least one computer program with a plurality of instructions, the computer readable apparatus being part of a computerized information system disposed on or within a personnel transport device having a passenger compartment within which at least a portion of the information system is disposed, the computerized information system being configured to adaptively provide a user with desired information relating to a plurality of topical areas, said at least one program being configured to, when executed:

• receive a digitized representation of a speech input of the user of the transport device via a speech recognition apparatus in communication with the computerized information system, the speech input comprises at least a part of a name of a particular business entity;
• cause wireless access of a network using at least a wireless interface of the computerized information system in order to access information stored on a remote server and which is related to a plurality of business entities, including the particular business entity;
• receive the accessed information obtained from the remote server via the wireless interface;
• and
• generate a synthesized speech output via a speech synthesis apparatus of the information system, the speech output prompting the user to provide a subsequent speech input;
• receive a digitized representation of the subsequent user speech input via the speech recognition apparatus, the subsequent input enabling the information system to identify one of a plurality of business entities that is the particular business entity of interest to the user;
• and
• display, based at least in part on the received accessed information, a map representation showing a location of the particular business entity on a display device of the personnel transport device, the map representation further comprising an arrow graphic differentiated at least in color from the map representation so as to guide the user to the business entity;
• and
• wherein said computerized information system is fixedly mounted within said transport device such that at least a portion of said display device is viewable by the user while operating the transport device.

Computer readable apparatus of a computerized information system of a personnel transport device, the apparatus comprising a storage medium having computerized logic comprising at least one computer program, the at least one program configured to, when executed on the computerized system:

• receive, via a speech recognition apparatus of the computerized information system, an input from a user of the personnel transport device, the input relating to a user's desire to locate a business entity using the computerized information system;
• cause utilization of a wireless interface of the transport device and a network in data communication with the wireless interface to access information disposed on a remote server, the accessed information relating to the business entity;
• receive the accessed information received via the wireless interface;
• provide the user with at least a portion of the accessed information relating to the business or entity via each of:
• (i) a display device of the computerized information system;
• and (ii) a speech synthesis apparatus of the computerized information system;
• at least temporarily store at least a portion of the accessed information on a storage device of the computerized information system;
• enable an ad hoc communication link with a portable electronic device of the user, the ad hoc link being configured to transfer data between the computerized information system and the portable electronic device;
• and
• transfer at least a portion of the stored accessed information to the personnel electronic device for subsequent use by the user.