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Driving computainment for more convenience, safety
Touch up: CarPlay system is seen in the touchscreen console of a Ferrari FF automobile, produced by Ferrari SpA, as it stands on display at the company's stand at an international auto show
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span class="inline inline-center">Touch up: CarPlay system is seen in the touchscreen console of a Ferrari FF automobile, produced by Ferrari SpA, as it stands on display at the company's stand at an international auto show. Gianluca Colla/Bloomberg
Electronics and information and communications technology (ICT) firms are competing to entertain car drivers and passengers with sophisticated devices. With infotainment, traffic congestion will hopefully be more bearable.
Phrases like 'sorry, I'm late, there were traffic jams everywhere,' or 'the traffic sucks and it's getting even worse' are commonly heard in Jakarta. Those traveling during peak hours will certainly agree.
The traffic congestion plaguing Jakarta is stressful. It's harder for people living in suburbs like Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi. For those who work in the capital but don't take the commuter trains, they have to leave their houses very early in the morning.
Traffic jams can also be found in many roads in several cities across the country during the Idul Fitri exodus, when millions return to their hometowns at the end of Ramadhan.
Stressful journeys may be about to ease with sophisticated entertainment features in cars to pass the time when the radio gets too boring.
Car owners can just bring karaoke devices and laptops in their sedans or vans to entertain themselves during peak traffic jams. Also, most cars are now equipped with screens for cable television channels and DVD players, GPS, and hands-free telephone gadgets.
But now prominent electronic and ICT players such as Apple and Google are competing to offer computainment and infotainment on vehicle dashboards for the sake of driver convenience and safety while driving.
Consumer electronic giant Apple Inc. has announced Apple CarPlay, a smarter, safer way to use iPhones in the car by just plugging the gadget in the dashboard.
CarPlay runs on the iOS operating system to work with the built-in display units of car dashboards. CarPlay is available for all iPhones applying the Lightning connector, and operates iOS 7.1. This system aims to offer direct access to iOS device functionality, control and usage, directly via the manufacturers' native in-car control systems.
Integration is aimed for several functions that iOS devices currently incorporate, these include Siri, an eyes-free and hands-free operation device, satellite navigation, telephony instruction and control, music control through iTunes, and iMessage control and response.
International media recently reported that a new list of leading automakers will incorporate CarPlay, including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Mazda and Ram.
The names join a large group of top brands in the automotive industry that have earlier announced the use of Apple's all encompassing in-dash system, such as Acura, BMW, Chevrolet, Citroen, Daimler, Ferrari, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota and Volvo.
Pioneer, a leading manufacturer of high-performance audio, video and computer equipment, has announced one of the first aftermarket in-dash car multimedia systems to provide CarPlay, allowing consumers the ability to upgrade the vehicle they already own to the smarter, safer and more fun way to use iPhone in the car. CarPlay compatibility will be available in early summer 2014 via a firmware update to the five 2014 NEX in-dash multimedia receivers.
Utilizing large, in-dash Pioneer LCD displays, CarPlay, featuring Siri voice control, gives iPhone users the features while allowing them to stay focused on the road. With CarPlay, consumers with iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5 can use Siri to make and receive calls, compose and respond to text messages, use Apple Maps for navigation and listen to their music, podcasts and iTunes Radio.
The battle in vehicle infotainment is now fiercer with another high-tech feature for dashboard infotainment dubbed Android Auto from Google.
Android Auto will allow mobile devices with Android operating systems to work in cars through the dashboard's head unit. This feature will enable drivers control over GPS mapping/navigation, music playback, texting/messaging, calls, and web browsing. The applications that can be used include Google Maps and Google Play Music.
Android Auto is part of the Open Automotive Alliance, which was announced last January, and is a joint effort with 28 automobile manufacturers and mobile tech supplier Nvidia. The first cars supporting Android Auto will be released later this year. Among the car manufacturers deploying the system include Audi, Hyundai, General Motors, Honda and Volvo
When commercially rolled out, the computing and entertainment functionality in automobiles will soon be another factor for potential car buyers in Indonesia as well.
