Smartphones on wheels: technology is changing modern cars

Despite the acceleration of technological developments, it may often seem that consumer expectations are ahead of many industries. In fact, research from Ericsson stresses that six out of ten people expect that by 2030, just thinking about “show the map” by wearing augmented reality (AR) glasses, a map will appear.

Whether it’s smart or not, consumers want an intuitive, technological experience here and now. All is well said that it is possible in 2030 or even in 2050, but how much of this is available for use now, what technologies are turning vision into reality? In 2022, one of the spaces where great advances are being made in integrated IoT is the automotive industry.

Tomorrow’s car is here today

During CES 2022 The prototypes debuted as a result of future technology – we saw BMW showcase a 31-inch “Theater Screen” display for its cars, and Cadillac boasts its standalone, luxury Innerspace concept car. While this may seem like a dream come true, even in 2022 the car will turn into a “smartphone on wheels”. Now vehicles do much more than just help you move, thanks to integrated technology that makes transportation more environmentally friendly and smart, and turns cars into cars with advanced technology; you can access services from center consoles, use advanced infotainment systems and enjoy new levels of convenience.

These changes are happening now and are changing our view of driving. For example, thanks to improved location and in-car parking features, drivers can now switch between parking apps, navigation services, music and messages more easily than ever before. Motorists no longer need to juggle multiple points of contact. Instead, they can find all the necessary tools on their central car console. Combining this innovation with ways to make cars cleaner, more economical and more efficient – that’s what will revolutionize the automotive space.

How technology can help city life

Technology in the car is not just about convenience; it also helps to create cleaner and more livable cities. Pollution control in urban areas is vital, and more efficient vehicles will help to do so. The problem is inevitable – about 40 million people in the 115 largest cities of the European Union (EU) are exposed to air exceeding World Health Organization indicative air quality values ​​for at least one pollutant. Children who live near heavy-duty roads are twice as likely to have respiratory problems as those who live near less congested streets.

New technological innovations are the answer to tackling the growing environmental challenges. They can highlight congested routes and find parking spaces, help reduce air pollution and reduce unnecessary fossil fuel combustion, while traveling faster and more efficiently. Combined with these advances, electrification of transport networks will also help rethink fuel use, displacing our dependence on fossil fuels with increasing their volatile costs and creating clean air for urban dwellers. Technology in cars – it’s more than just decoration – it changes the position of vehicles.

The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Automotive World Ltd.

Peter O’Driscoll is the Managing Director of RingGo

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