January 20, 2012
With many states passing laws requiring the use of hands-free devices in vehicles, even more opting to ban texting while driving (at least for teens, but in some cases for all drivers), and the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) strongly urging lawmakers to enact a federal ban on any cell phone usage in cars, more and more consumers are becoming aware of the dangers associated with splitting their attention between a mobile device and the road. As a result, the demand for technology that corrects the problem is on the rise. And while some advances have been made, with Bluetooth and navigation becoming fairly standard features in modern vehicles, still there is a lot to be desired when it comes to communication and information technology for automobiles. But that could be rapidly changing.
It seems the era of “connected cars” is upon us, and while most consumers are used to seeing rapid advances in the mobile technology arena, it has simply taken a little longer for automakers to jump on the bandwagon. And car sales have dropped as a result. Okay, so the economic recession is likely to blame for the lapse in sales figures affecting dealerships, but the truth is that the almighty 18-35 demographic, which is generally categorized by disposable income and a penchant for having a finger on the pulse of relevant technology, simply hasn’t been buying new cars. And according to automotive research firm Polk, the average car on the road today is 10.8 years old (a record high for American drivers), signaling that this segment of society, generally known for more rapid vehicle turnover, is either keeping cars longer or opting to purchase used vehicles rather than new. It stands to reason that the lack of technological innovation could be partially responsible for this trend.
But that doesn’t mean there’s a drought. In fact, there are already a few options on the road, like GM’s OnStar, Ford’s Sync, and Apple’s Siri, all of which are helping drivers to remain hands-free while they listen (and respond) to text messages, check their Facebook pages, or even get directions and do Google searches. And automakers came out in force to present their latest interior gadgetry at the North American International Auto Show this week.
GM will soon release an optional infotainment system with voice commands for hands-free calling, MP3 playback, and navigation (for smartphone users), Toyota will offer Entune, a subscription-based service that allows for ticket purchases and reservations from the driver’s seat, Hyundai’s BlueLink system will get an upgrade that lets users dictate text messages, and Caddies will soon come with CUE, a touchpad system that also takes voice commands and recognizes hand gestures (at least some of them).
Unfortunately, none of the automakers present supplied a truly comprehensive system that would allow drivers unfettered access to the technology they crave in a hands-free way. So those that want to text and surf the web during transport are going to have to join a carpool, rely on mass transit, or seek out an affordable car hire service. Of course, some are eagerly awaiting Google’s self-driving car (a thousand driver-free miles and counting). But that’s not likely to leave the testing phase and hit the consumer market any time soon. Until then, we’ll just have to resign ourselves to waiting until the car stops to safely and adequately reply to texts, post to Facebook, or search for directions.
