August 25, 2010
Smart Phones and Cars
First, a confession, I'm a techie. I've watched technology change in my industry from 45rpm records (so, I'm also an old techie!!) to digital audio. I have the latest iPhone, which I now use for most of the video and photos you see on this web page. That's why what I saw at Delphi this morning was particularly fascinating.
As I related in today's Car Chronicles report (we'll have a video in the next day or so), Delphi showed off technology (which will debut in the 2013 model year) that actually puts the image of your smart phone screen into a screen on the center console. The people at Delphi feel that traditional navigation systems will go the way of car phones. You'll access something like Google Maps, or Mapquest (or something not dreamed up yet) on your smart phone, and watch it on the screen.
There's also Internet radio. Yes, it's more competition...but there's so much already. It also gives those of us in the business of providing information one new way to provide it to you, the end consumer.
Also very fascinating is the way they plan to work it so that when you're driving, the distracting applications are locked out. They are still working on those standards, and working out ways to make sure nobody downloads a virus to your car.
Oh yea, they also figure the CD player in the car is about to follow the cassette and eight track into automotive history.
I've been seeing connected cars since the late 90's. I remember Ford's promise at the 2000 auto show to have all cars connected to the Internet by the end of 2001. It didn't happen, because consumers couldn't see a need for it.
Now, those same consumers are tethered to their smart phones. That's created the market for connectivity in our cars.
It will be interesting to see the impact on driver distraction. Companies like Delphi and Ford--with it's Sync system---take pains to make sure their systems aren't distracting. But, there will be an aftermarket, where some--not all--will care more about selling a product, and not care about the impact on your safety.
There's a lot to figure out. But the people at Delphi reminded us this morning that when they unveiled the first car radio back in the thirties, there were huge concerns about distractions. I think history has shown that the positives of helping you avoid bad weather and traffic jams, and keeping you informed have outweighed any distraction issues caused by the car radio.
