More Predictions About the Coming Auto Infotainment Revolution (And What It Means for Radio)
Yes, I’m going to harp on this again because (1) I love gadgets; (2) I love cars; and (3) I love radio, which needs to get its act together to deal with what’s beginning to be the biggest driver distraction since the first car radio in 1931.
When the Consumer Electronics Show opens in Las Vegas next week, we’re going to see all kinds of new automotive gadgetry. To get an idea why, read this New York Times article entitled “Digital Connections Will Increase as a Selling Point, Study Says.”
AUTOMAKERS are racing to ramp up their digital offerings, linking in-dash systems to smartphones and services like traffic monitors faster than you can say Pandora.
Contrary to what some overwhelmed shoppers may think, the car companies are not doing this because they have run dry of new ideas for luxury features and styling embellishments. Rather, it’s a response to demand: according to a recent study by I.B.M., buyers will increasingly select their new cars based on the digital gadgetry they contain.
In the next eight years, shoppers will focus more on options like live traffic reports and the personalization of connected services rather than brand names and reliability, according to the report, titled Transforming Retail.
While fuel economy is expected to remain paramount for many buyers, the emphasis on connected services is creating a digital debate among automakers over how to deliver these services.
Should such in-car systems take an open, flexible approach to connecting with software and services, or should these services be tightly controlled and restricted by the automakers? It’s shaping up as a battle similar to that between Google and Apple in smartphone operating systems.
Hmmm. And to think my dad use to choose his cars based on the model with less electronic features which meant potential problems.