The 2012 Consumer Show in Las Vegas draws to a close today. For the automobile industry, it marked an opportunity for them to show off vehicles equipped with computer services that operate online, or through the “cloud,” and allow drivers to remotely track their cars, diagnose what’s wrong with them and potentially avoid collisions. Automakers including Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co., Kia Motors America, and Mercedes-Benz displayed vehicles loaded with the latest computer technology.
The products represent automakers’ efforts to use the Internet to offer features that have become commonplace throughout the technology industry. Together with Internet connectivity, come the problems associated with accumulating detailed consumer data, specifically how that information is used and protected. “It’s bringing about a new automotive era in my eyes, where cars will have intelligence,” Thilo Koslowski, analyst for Gartner told the Wall Street Journal. He explained, “The car will become more than getting from ‘Point A’ to ‘Point B,’ but it will become self-aware of what’s happening around it, what’s happening to it and even what’s happening to the driver.”
On January 10, Kia Motors America (KMA) unveiled UVO eServices, the next iteration of the company's innovative voice-activated infotainment system, at the event. Showcased in Kia's 2012 Optima Hybrid midsize sedan, UVO eServices represents an evolution from the original UVO system's capabilities, adding a new telematics suite ("eServices") that is powered by a free smartphone app that will provide drivers with an innovative in-vehicle connectivity experience including navigation, diagnostics capabilities and added convenience features. Powered by Microsoft®1 , UVO is short for "Your Voice," and provides consumers easy-to-use voice and touch-activated experiences to manage music files and hands-free mobile phone operation. Also at CES, KMA debuted the In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) concept, which demonstrates Kia's forward-thinking technology and concepts in the realm of connected car.
GM’s OnStar unit reported that it would offer mobile application developers access to its computer systems that send and receive data from the cars of six million subscribers. With access to OnStar’s systems, mobile apps would be able to beam trip plans to the vehicle’s navigation system or pinpoint the car’s location. “We’re not just talking about putting an app in the car,” said Vijay Iyer, an OnStar spokesman. “This is about giving access to vehicle-centric information.”
However, this technology will create privacy issues, similar to those faced by credit card companies and social networks. Although car manufacturers state that they are confident that their products incorporate data protection, automotive analysts caution that mistakes will be made during their development.
Beyond the privacy issue, the new hi-tech vehicles offer a wealth of benefits. In addition to monitoring engine status (currently available in many of today’s vehicles), new applications can also amass and analyze the data from vehicles to ensure quality, and promptly issue recalls if widespread problems appear. In addition, new applications can track the location of the whereabouts of your teen, an employee’s usage of a company car, and whether—and how long—an employee showed up for a scheduled appointment.
One group of vehicles is ahead of the curve in this technology. Most electric vehicles on the road today contain integrated communication and sensor technologies used to help the driver manage the vehicle’s recharging cycles. Most also contain a navigation system, which provides locations of charging stations.
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