The future of driving is connected, and it’s already started
Think about it; when was the last time you were in a car that wasn’t connected? These days, it’s practically impossible to get in one without some form of connectivity. Unless you happen to be driving a stripped back track day racer, almost every single new vehicle on sale in Ireland today possesses this kind of technology. And if this is what it’s like today, what will it be like tomorrow?
Connectivity in cars today
Many of us are passionate about our car. We just couldn’t survive without it. They play such an important role in our lives, one way or another. As a result, we often spend a large amount of time in them on a daily basis – from travelling to and from work, to visiting friends and places, to just for the fun of it!
And as our lives away from cars have become more and more connected, it should come as no surprise to learn that we – as both drivers and passengers – are increasingly demanding better, more dependable in-car connectivity. We want to play our music at the time that suits us best; we want to let people know where we are on social networks; we also want to call our friends and use apps to improve our experience while on the road. We can do all those things right now in many new cars on sale, with wireless technology – such as Bluetooth – now widely adopted by almost all automakers.
Connectivity also keeps us safer, with built-in SIM cards in some vehicles allowing for the fitment of ‘SOS’ buttons, for use in emergencies. Some motor manufacturers even provide concierge-style services, enabling people to speak to representatives that can help, or advise.
Continental – shaping the future of in-car connectivity
Like so much else in our lives, the car continues to evolve in to what we need it to be. Take the contribution of Continental, the leading global automotive technology company. While they’re best know for their award winning premium tyres, their designers and engineers are working tirelessly to innovate and push developments for in-car connectivity to the next phase. They have been at the forefront of car connectivity for many years. As Dr Elmar Degenhart, Chairman of the Board at Continental, says, “We are the architects of an ecosystem of safe, clean and intelligent mobility. We are, after all, already supplying what others are still testing.”
The message is clear: Continental’s future technology isn’t just innovative; it’s also responsible. As we go forward, we can almost certainly expect to see virtually all new cars equipped with ultra-fast communication technology as the need to remain connected to our personal and business lives becomes ever more relevant.
A taste of what’s to come
Continental is already working on 5G communication technology with telecoms partner, Vodafone, which is intended to provide the vehicles of tomorrow with up to 10 gigabits of bandwidth. This will make it possible to transmit data up to 30 times faster than currently possible. That’s a huge leap forward, and will open up endless possibilities for data-driven applications in cars.
Like what? Well, for starters, we can expect to see cars communicating with each other. The Swedish automaker, Volvo, recently announced that its next generation of vehicles will be able to talk to each other about potentially hazardous levels of grip on the road. As you’d imagine with a company like Continental, this is an area of expertise they are already developing, thanks to their innovative ContiSense technology which is designed to detect, gather and relay data from the tyres to the driver, and beyond.
The future of in-car connectivity isn’t just about entertainment, or human interaction with the vehicle. It’s also about direct communication between vehicles, and the surrounding infrastructure. This way of utilising connectivity may radically alter the driving experience as we know it. There is the strong possibility of an autonomous vehicle future, based on emission-free electric vehicles, where we don’t even own our own vehicles anymore. Whether this will come to pass, who can say for sure? But one thing’s for sure; driving will never be the same again.
BestDrive by Continental – You drive, we care.