How Car Technology is Transforming How Individuals Relax When Travelling
The first connected car technology that was created for general use by the public was by General Motors in 1996 when the OnStar system automatically connected to call centres for emergency assistance when the airbags were deployed. Thirty years on, car technology has dramatically been transformed and now most modern cars have sophisticated onboard wireless networks that can connect with nearby electronic devices such as phones, laptops, and other mobile devices creating an IoT (Internet of Things).
This technology makes it possible for navigation systems to update in real time ensuring that drivers can be notified of traffic delays and will adjust routes to get to their destinations in the most efficient manner possible.
Integrated features notify drivers of different car components that can affect journeys such as tyre pressure, predictive maintenance, remote diagnostics, cabin temperature control, locking, ADAS (advanced driver systems), semi autonomous driving, real time hazard detection, and communications that all provide enhanced security and navigation for drivers and passengers. These features all help to reduce the cognitive stress and fatigue of drivers transforming the daily commute or longer trips of Canadians into safer and more relaxing experiences.
Streaming and Connectivity Options For Passengers
Drivers of course must still focus on driving but now benefit from built in car technology to access music and other important features that improves their drive. Passengers however can fully benefit from all available in-car features by connecting to high speed internet that can be enjoyed by multiple users to stream music, enjoy videos, or browse the internet without using mobile data.
During a rest stop, drivers can relax and unwind and enjoy a quick gaming break and some of them enjoy a fun live casino game that is seamlessly delivered directly to their mobile phone. It is one of the many streaming options that can be enjoyed by drivers when they have stopped for a rest or by passengers during the journey.
Research shows that quick entertainment breaks can recharge cognitive functions therefore drivers who take a moment to unwind will find that they are more refreshed and alert when they continue their onward journey. Children often become bored on long journeys so being able to offer them entertainment options that keep them occupied can create a much more harmonious feeling throughout the cabin of the car and reduce parental stress levels as well and means less “How much further is it?” questions.
The Evolution of Infotainment Technology
In the 1920’s the first AM radio was installed into cars and marked the beginning of in car entertainment which over the past century has transformed cars from solely being a form of transport into environments that feature fully integrated technical features that provide navigation, streaming services, seamless connectivity with smartphones, streaming services, and traffic updates in real time.
What started out as simple entertainment has now been transformed into a complex infotainment ecosystem that has rapidly advanced over the past decade offering connected services where users can enjoy personalized recommendations, access commands verbally, and provide access to an almost unlimited choice of entertainment options for passengers as well as an extensive audio library for drivers to listen to.
Infotainment provides smoother journeys and passengers can not only enjoy entertainment, they can also work remotely, or search the web for information about their destination, any traffic delays, or inclement weather, or any other useful information that can be beneficial for their journey such as purchasing an eSim card if they are driving abroad in order to stay connected wherever they are.
In Vehicle Wi-Fi
In the past, drivers and passengers used the mobile data on their smartphones to connect to the internet in order to navigate or listen to streamed music. In 2008, the first in vehicle wi-fi was introduced by an American company Autonet Mobile launched a router that could be connected to the 3G network, the american car Cadillac offered it in the same year as an optional feature.
Connected car technology is not focused on making every form of entertainment available to travellers, rather is designed to make journeys more relaxing and flexible. This technology transforms journeys into experiences that are safer and more relaxing for the driver and more productive and entertaining for passengers.
Smart Travel Planning With Connected Car Technology
In the past, travellers would plan their trips using physical road maps and have an estimated time of arrival to their destination. Connected technology in cars has transformed how travellers prepare their journeys. Smart navigation systems keep drivers continually updated with any type of issues such as accidents or heavy traffic and also provide alternative routes if available.
Smart systems also can help drivers and passengers locate services such as petrol stations, restaurants, and accommodation along their route. Electric car users can locate charging stations along their route which helps them to chart out journeys where they can recharge and enjoy a rest which also helps to reduce driver fatigue which is essential for safe driving.
Being able to access weather forecasts and plan journeys is especially useful for Canadians who may encounter changing climatic conditions on long journeys. Journeys can be planned to avoid dangerous conditions by planning departure time and stops which all contribute to a safer journey and reduces the chances of encountering or being involved in an accident.
Road Trip Entertainment Trends In Canada
Canadians enjoy taking long trips that can range from long drives across provinces that can take days through the prairies, up the long pacific coast of British Columbia or on the Atlantic Coast. Canadians are taking advantage of connected car technology to improve these longer journeys where audio streaming is one of the most popular forms of entertainment where drivers and passengers can enjoy. Playlists are particularly popular as they are available even in areas where connectivity is limited.
In the past all passengers had to listen to the same content, now onboard connectivity means that every passenger can enjoy their own preferred choice of entertainment which creates a group of individuals that are all content throughout the journey rather than trying to compete with each other or becoming frustrated because they do not enjoy the choice of music.
Many travellers enjoy the experience of the journey and in the future, it is expected that connected vehicles will continue to evolve. Cars will provide much more than simple transportation. Connected car technology will transform cars into sophisticated communication hubs. Vehicles will use real time updates that will provide smooth navigation with limited disruptions.
Long road trips will not be remembered for the hours spent in a traffic jam, rather they will be enjoyable memories that will last long after the journey comes to an end and prioritise the most important aspect of any trip, the safety of the driver and passengers.
Despite all of these technological advances, drivers should always remember that they should only enjoy connected car technology entertainment features when they are taking a break and not when they are behind the wheel unless the option is hands free.
