Advanced and impressive technology is now a part of our
everyday lives. We have come to expect it from almost everything that we use;
no less so than in our cars. GPS systems and ipod connections are now the norm
but with the recent news that all our cars could be connected to the internet by as early as next year, it begs the question as to what
other exciting innovations lie just around the corner for the automotive
industry.
Voice Recognition
Phone manufacturers are still trying to perfect
this much sought-after feature, with hopes of it making its way into vehicles
as well. With the dangers of driving while on the phone now very much
documented – and even banned in many countries – being able to call, tweet,
update facebook and search the web via voice control could be not only
convenient but also much safer. Add this to being able to roll down the window
or change the radio station and voice recognition becomes highly desirable to
many a modern driver.
Cars that Drive Themselves
Cruise control has existed for a while and some
cars now have technology that helps with parallel parking but manufacturers
hope to provide cars that can not only maintain consistent speeds by themselves
– a la cruise control – but also use sensors to monitor surroundings and alter
their speed accordingly. They are also trialling cars that are capable of
memorising your most popular routes and replicating them by themselves.
Communicating Cars
This is known as Vehicle-to-Vehicle
communication (V2V).
It uses wireless signals to provide cars with information about other nearby
vehicles. For example, a crash may have just happened up ahead; you cannot see
it yet but your car will receive a warning message, allowing you time to reduce
your speed and stay alert before you too become involved in the accident.
Additional information they hope it will provide includes cars that have run a
red light and now pose a threat or approaching cars that are breaking the speed
limit. Ultimately, its aim is to keep drivers safe and well informed as to what
is happening on the road around them.
Digital Display
The dashboard could soon essentially become a
large interactive tablet. Technology is already being tested that will allow
the windscreen to highlight objects and provide the driver with important
information; such as the speed of an incoming vehicle or the direction to head
to avoid an oncoming collision.
Particularly if voice recognition becomes a
success, the two could combine to allow drivers to quickly bring up real time
maps showing the best route to the nearest restaurants or hotels or even just
to guide you through your journey; chunky GPS systems stuck to the windscreen
will suddenly seem very dated and obtrusive.
Car ‘Apps’
Applications are essentially upgrades or extra
features that can be downloaded onto computer devices, ipods and such like. The
concept has revolutionised the world of technology, as these additional
advancements can be downloaded directly onto the devices themselves, without
needing to take them to the manufacturer for installation. Internet connection
and interactive computer systems inside cars could soon mean the same for them;
with apps to provide wake up calls for drowsy drivers, to change the music to
fit your current mood and to alter the lighting within the car all having
already been tipped as favourites to emerge first.
With these and other wondrous features all
slated to be made available for mass production in the not too distant future,
kitting out your ultimate car should become a real possibility. Imagine a car
like a Porsche, renowned for its style; now not only looking great on the outside but performing with
all the latest mod-cons on the inside. Car lovers can rejoice, as such dream
vehicles should soon become a widely available reality.