How Smartphones Improve Your Rides – The Digital Friendship Story
Jun 2015
Since the introduction of the smartphones, the car manufacturers have been coming up with new ways to catch-up with the innovations taking place in the communications industry. They are also working hard to make the touch screen on your car’s dashboard to be similar to your average tablet or smartphone.
From Bluetooth Connectivity to Endless Mobile Apps
Bluetooth, one of the first communication revolutions in the 21st century, produced cabled and then hand-free devices to connect you to the vehicle. People used to receive calls in the car or play songs in the car’s stereo system with Bluetooth connectivity. The most modern Bluetooth services for automotive industry include music streaming, GPS navigation, on-call hands-free connectivity, health monitoring, and connecting your phone with the car.
With the rise of smartphones and responsive touch screens attached to the car’s dashboard, Bluetooth connectivity is being replaced by apps and other digital devices. Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto provides controlling and connecting with most important apps by generating controlled interface with the touchscreen device on your dashboard. Both the services support Hyundai, Chrysler, Audi, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Kia, Mazda, Chevy, Honda, Subaru, Nissan, Jeep, Volvo, Ford, and many other major players of automotive industry.
MirrorLink is another automotive communication based user interface that provides easy connectivity for Microsoft’s Windows Phones. Some of the privileges you should not miss include the following.
Health Support: Informing you about your heartbeat, possible allergies in the surrounding, and health treatment reminders
Emergency Support: Indicating the possibility of an accident, indicating in-line monitoring, and automating car aid systems including airbags in case of emergency situations
Communication: Connecting you to your family through GPS, making or receiving calls, connecting your car with friend’s car nearby
Mapping and Navigation: Smartphone apps for mapping and navigation inform about directions, miles, fuel efficiency, and nearby cafes, hotels and restaurants etc.
Infotainment: Music, movies, news, and library etc.
The Future of Digital Friendship story
Imagine Toyota’s Entune or Ford’s Sync produced specifically for the smartphone brand you own! In the near future, the connectivity between automotives and smartphones may improve in various ways. The cars of the future may become brand specific if the smartphone producers and car manufacturers shake hands with each other. A new privately owned connectivity system may be introduced which equally supports all the smartphones. The smartphone producers may work together to produce a joint system that is favorable for all operating systems.
