The Rise of Smart Technologies: Transforming the Way We Drive

Technological advances are altering the way we live our life. While our everyday tasks may stay the same, the way we approach and complete them are differing year on year. The likes of smartphones and smart metres are making everything a little easier!

The automotive industry isn’t a stranger to these new technological advances, either. Car manufacturers are constantly trying to stay up to date with new innovations. 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? Here, with Audi dealer, Vindis, we take a look.

1. 3D gesture technology

Imagine being able to switch your gears or wind down your vehicle’s window by simply waving your hand. Like magic, this is now achievable! 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.

2. AR dashboard displays

Enhance you driving experience through 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.

3. Full integration with phones and smart watches

Our cars and smart gadgets integrating is a trend which is set to continue. Recent innovations have seen car manufacturers 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. What’s more, built-in integration with apps is set to become more commonplace with new car models. Many models now integrate popular apps into the infotainment system, making it look just like the usual screen on your phone.

4. Inter-car communication

A car with internet may now be fairly standard. 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. Whilst this is highly beneficial for drivers, there is always a chance that an accident can occur, so it is essential to know what to do next to ensure that you deal with the incident properly so that everyone involved can come out of it without issues. If you do find yourself in an accident then it’s crucial to get in contact with an experienced personal injury attorney, like those at Stone Rose Law, who can start building your case.

5. Self-driving cars

Driverless cars have been an idea for a long time. It 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’.

6. Automated parking systems

Finally, for those who don’t like needing to search for a parking space and riskily squeeze into it, automated parking systems could be the one for you. 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.

While some of these innovations may seem as though they’ve arrived straight out of science fiction, every day smart technology is changing how we drive. It may take some getting used to, but our future roads are set to be safer than ever!