There’s some pretty exciting developments in the world of car technology right now which are changing the way we drive, control and interact with our vehicles. We take a look at what’s happening now and glance ahead at what the future of car tech holds.
Wi-fi connected cars
The Vauxhall Astra is the latest in a growing line of car models to feature built-in Wi-Fi. You can connect up to seven devices to your car’s Wi-Fi hotspot, ideal for streaming music and films for kids in the back, and for online navigation services such as Google Maps. Data is provided over 4G and you get a year’s use either included in the price of the car or as a separate £395 cost.
If you’re not in the market for a new car anytime soon, or are put off by the hefty outlay, you could always create your own car Wi-Fi hotspot with a portable router and a monthly data sim plan.
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Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Apple’s and Android’s operating systems dominate the smartphone market, and now both have released in-car versions of their software to allow you to seamlessly integrate your phone’s features and apps with your dashboard display. Simply connect your iPhone (5 or later) or Android smartphone (running 5.0 Lollipop or higher) via a USB cable and compatible apps will pop up on your car’s display. For CarPlay, these apps must be compatible with Siri, to prevent any distractions navigating via your touchscreen.
Factory installed versions of this software are already present on many new cars, and third party stereo makers Pioneer and Kenwood have released models you can install in your existing vehicle too.
Gesture controls
BMW has grander ideas for controlling your dashboard; hand gestures. Earlier this year it published this video showing off the feature on its new 7 series. The technology uses 3D sensors which detect hand and finger gestures to make simple tasks such as turning up the radio volume a doddle (this can only end well when travelling with mischievous passengers).
SYNC Connect – start your car with an app
While the ‘telematics’ technology behind this isn’t exactly new, Ford recently debuted its new SYNC Connect app in the US, which allows Ford vehicle owners to lock, unlock and start their cars engines remotely. There’s also the handy feature of locating your car from the app, while it can report on your car’s health, giving you detailed feedback on fuel, oil, battery and tire pressure levels. The company revealed plans to offer 3 years use of the app with new models and one would expect a subscription model to come into play after that.
Google driverless cars
Driverless vehicles are arguably the utopia of car technology and Google are leading the way with their self-driving car project. The aim is to create a world in which ‘everyone can get around easily and safely, regardless of their ability to drive’. Sensor detection is obviously the key here, and it will likely be a while before this is perfected given the sheer room for error. This is why current prototypes are being tested with safety drivers present to take over at any point and to feedback to the Google engineering team. There’s no questioning Google’s committment to the project though, and its director Chris Urmson has hinted at a release between 2017 and 2020. Watch this space (and that pedestrian).
Night vision
Finally, a recent development in night vision technology means we could be seeing it implemented into car windshields in the not so distant future. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are using a material called graphene to create micro chips capable of sensing heat. These chips are said to be small enough that they could soon be integrated into phones and cars, without obstructing a driver’s view of the road ahead.
Photo credit: Engadget
So there we have it, soon we’ll be whizzed around with no drivers, waving at our radios while watching a film on the back seat. Ok, maybe not that soon. While we’re waiting for all this to happen, why not check out some of the cool tech gear you can already buy for your car?