Wearable technology is one of the fastest growing industries, and where most forecasters see technology heading. Many companies are jumping on board, creating smartwatches, glasses, and more wearable items that will integrate everything from productivity tools to entertainment. Smartwatches from several companies and the much anticipated Google Glasses are beginning to hit the market that can do even more, bringing the smart technology of a phone or tablet into something small and wearable. This technology is set to make an impact on the automotive industry as well. According to ABI Research, in vehicle tech integration with wearable technology has a forecast of a 90 percent penetration rate.
Connected Automobiles
For years, automobiles have technology features like Bluetooth that make it easy to connect smartphones and tablets with a vehicle for entertainment, navigation and other purposes. Companies are currently working on apps that extend this connectivity to making cars safer to drive, including alarms that tell when a driver is distracted or fatigued and ways to monitor the vehicle when you are not driving it. Automobile manufacturers are working towards developing automated automobiles, but until then they see integrated connected automobiles as the market to tap, and wearable devices provide the next step in connectivity.
Early Concept Models Debut
Early in 2014 at the International CES, Mercedes-Benz debuted a concept application that allowed for communication between smartwatches using Pebble Technology and its vehicles. The device will make it easy for a user to monitor a vehicle’s location and fuel level, as well as access Google local search and send the findings remotely to the in-dash navigation system from their watch. It will also display social network feeds from the user’s accounts. It could potentially also make accessing entertainment and traffic conditions easier, as well as activating voice assistants, such as Apple’s Siri, to perform other tasks.
Hyundai also debuted an integrated app at the Detroit Auto Show, but they focused on the big tech everyone has been looking at this year: Google Glass, rather than smartwatches. Hyundai has created a Blue Link Glassware application that will provide communication between Google Glass and a person’s vehicle, which will be able to remotely lock or unlock doors, start the engine, and communicate with the navigation system, as well as receive service information. It will also be able to access data from other applications, such as a calendar, to help an owner stay on task and not miss events. For example, a calendar alert for an appointment could send the destination to the car’s navigation system, which will then speak back to Google Glass to inform the user how much time it will take to get there, and when they should leave. Other companies have also announced similar apps in development, including BMS, Nissan and INRIX.
The Future of Hands Free Technology
Already cars have made an effort to integrate with smart technology, making it easy to use devices hands free. As these devices become wearable, the auto industry will follow suite. Additionally, this technology is also being used within the vehicles to make the in-car experience even better. Many companies are working on adding technology that can read movements of the driver so that the controls of the radio or air-conditioning can be moved by a simple gesture. Additionally, they are creating apps to be able to monitor the car from afar. The next step is to make the car even safer to drive, including monitoring for signs of distracted driving and fatigue.
As these devices become standard, one of the biggest hurdles will be laws deeming whether using this technology is safe and legal, especially apps that are integrated with Google Glass. However, for now the vehicle industry sees wearable devices and integrated technology as a valuable market in which to invest.