Since technology for cars and smartphones is developing at an astonishing pace, it is fitting that the two should work together to make one’s driving experience smoother, safer and more entertaining. While connecting your phone to your car was previously achieved through a USB and Bluetooth connection, you were limited to playing music or making calls from your cell phone. Now you can do so much more.
You can make and receive calls, send and read texts, listen to music and podcasts, watch movies, find any destination, and even shop. All with the touch of a button. Infotainment systems in the newest car models connect with smart vehicle technologies such as ADAS systems, telematics devices, sensors, and smartphones, improving car connectivity and making it safer to drive.
Screensharing
Some large tech companies have offered screen sharing to OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). This technology allows the user to send applications from a smartphone to the display screen in their car, obviating the need to hold the phone and enabling the user to interact with apps that use larger icons, a user-friendly touchscreen and even voice control. Drivers can drop their phone into a wireless charger to charge the battery while listening to music and using 4G mobile navigation.
Cutting-Edge Solutions for Connectivity Between Smartphones and Cars
CarPlay is Apple’s solution for the car industry allowing drivers to connect iOS devices to send messages, make calls, use third-party navigation and listen to podcasts and music. With CarPlay you can also talk to Siri if your car has voice recognition connectivity.
Android Auto, Google’s trademarked standard, has all the same features as CarPlay, from calls and messages to navigation and music with some additions such as running your favourite navigation app as soon as you start the car and continue playing your latest track.
Bi-Directional Integration Between the Car and Smartphone.
Currently there is limited one-directional transfer of data: from the smartphone to the vehicle. The next stage of the mobility revolution is bi-directional integration. For instance, your phone can serve as a key to your car, enabling it to recognise you and adjust the seat, engine and gearbox settings and infotainment system. This is a useful feature if you share your car with one or more people. Your car can check the temperature and recommend that you activate the heating or cooling system.
If you are late for a meeting, the car can notify the person expecting you of your due time of arrival as well as your location. The car can also alert you to accidents on the highway. Your car can propose a different, better route than the one you usually take and can also recommend restaurants nearby.
If you have a long journey ahead of you, Google Maps uses your smartphone to recommend places to refuel in advance so that you will never be stuck without gas. In a new city, the smartphone can find a vacant parking spot and even remind you where you have parked. If you have forgotten to close your window or lock the car door, the smartphone will alert you about and lock the door and close the window for you. Your phone can also remind you about the upkeep of your car such as oil changes, new tyres, and replacing worn brake pads. These are just a few examples of bi-directional car-smartphone integration.
Car–smartphone integration solutions ensure less distraction on the road and a more comfortable, smoother experience behind the wheel. With mobility ruling our lives in everything from driving to playing at Lucky Creek online casino, new tech will soon change the way we use our cars and in this hi-tech, innovative driving experience, software merchants will take the lead on the automotive stage.