Smart technology has undoubtably revolutionised our day-to-day. We still engage with the same activities that we always have, socialising, travelling, shopping, etc. But the way in which we conduct these activities has been completely revolutionised by exciting new tech.
These technological changes have long been influencing the motoring industry. Car manufacturers are constantly trying to stay up to date with new innovations. At the rate that smart technology is advancing, companies have to work hard to avoid being left behind. We’ve already seen huge advancements such as in-car Bluetooth systems, dash-cams, and key finders. But what’s next for the world of automotive tech? The smart technology predictions over the next few years are set to totally revolutionise the way people drive. These new ideas will focus on safer driving, easier driving, and adding more fun enhancements to your driving experience.
Self-driving cars
The concept of self-driving cars has long been an ambition of motor manufacturers. This idea once seemed futuristic and farfetched, but the tech is now being developed and tested by leading automotive companies such as Audi. Similar to the idea behind inter-car communication, self-driving cars are set to reduce the risk of human error on the road. The result? A safer and more reliable way to travel. The Google Self-Driving Car project was initiated in 2009 and has since been rebranded as Waymo. After ordering a Waymo on an app, a self-driving car will pick you up and take you where you need to be — a journey which promises to be both extremely safe and very comfortable. The idea behind Waymo is that you can ‘ride with confidence’ and these vehicles have been branded as ‘the most experienced drivers’. Embracing self-driving cars feels like taking a leap of faith, but in the next few years, this tech is likely to feel much more common place. At this rate, we’ll have access to self-driving cars in our local Skoda dealership sooner than we could have imagined.
AR dashboard displays
Soon enough, many vehicles will be enhanced with augmented reality dashboards. Giving your dashboard a video-game aesthetic, AR displays will show any information you need to know about the car itself. They will also give you other vital information about the road, such as how quickly you’re approaching another car, and how best to avoid collisions.
3D gesture technology
A simple wave of your hand and you could easily control many elements of your car — like magic! As well as being futuristic and fun, this tech is set to make driving easier and safer. Instead of jabbing at buttons on the radio, or being tempted to reach out for your phone, you will soon be able to point at the screen of your infotainment system to accept an incoming call — a simple solution that means you’ll never have to take your eyes off the road.
Automated parking systems
Our next innovation — which is set to make many people’s life a lot easier — is the introduction of automated parking systems. Parktronic systems that allow cars to find parking spaces and navigate to them already exist, but with new infrastructure around automated parking systems forecasted, the future looks bright for those who hate parking. This infrastructure will allow passengers to drop off the car at the entrance to a garage, allowing it to venture off and find its own parking space. And when you’re ready to be reunited with your wheels? A simple tap on an app will signal to your car that it’s time to journey back to the drop-off point.
Inter-car communication
We’re all fairly used to cars that are connected to the internet. Soon however, these internet-enabled cars will have the ability to communicate with one another, transforming our driving experience. Communication between cars will help prevent collisions, with precision that human error has never before allowed us to achieve. Before a collision can occur, the car-to-car communication system will foresee the accident and alert the driver to the potential consequences. They will then be able to react quickly and avoid catastrophe.
Soon enough we will see more and more fully autonomous models. Which leads us on to our next smart technology…
Full integration with phones and smart watches
Our cars and our gadgets already work together and our partially integrated, but car manufacturers want to take this trend one step further. Recent innovations have seen companies such as Hyundai, pair up with the Android Wear app which allows users to complete a number of commands from your smart watch. From your watch you can start your engine remotely, lock your car’s doors, sound your horn, and turn the headlights on and off.
Built-in integration with apps is set to become more commonplace in new cars. Many models now integrate popular apps into the infotainment system, making it look just like the usual screen on your phone.
We truly seem to be approaching the utopian world of science fiction with some of these exciting inventions. It may take some getting used to, but our future roads are set to be safer than ever!
