Top Vehicle Infotainment Trends to Watch

Learn which infotainment trends are dominating the auto industry, and what it means for the future of transportation.

Technology moves fast, with some innovations growing obsolete almost as quickly as they hit the market. Entertainment electronics are particularly guilty of this — just ask anyone who owned an iPod (or three) in the early 2000s. Worse, these devices tend to look really dated long before a younger generation decides to resurrect them as “cool.”

Understandably, this poses an issue for automakers. Today’s vehicle interiors are brimming with modern technology, substituting sleek touchscreens and charging ports for the physical knobs and plug-in cigarette lighters of yore. Will that Bluetooth button on the steering wheel eventually look as out of place as the aux cord it replaced? Probably… as will a hoard of other technology and convenience upgrades coming down the automotive pike.

The real question seems to be which infotainment trends have lasting power, even if only for a short while. USB chargers appear to be digging their heels in, as does internet radio, despite both being relatively unnecessary for those rocking wireless chargers and cheap Spotify subscriptions. And it appears touchscreens aren’t going anywhere – despite being a proven distraction while driving.

We rounded up five high-level infotainment trends that we see dominating current and future vehicle design. Whether or not they’ll stick around as long as the almighty FM radio remains to be seen, but it’s safe to say these technological advancements are worth watching.

Increased Connectivity

Connected vehicles aren’t exactly a new innovation, but the technology driving their capabilities is certainly evolving.

Essentially, a connected car is one with an internet connection; it can access and send data. Sometimes, the car communicates with on-board devices (like an OnStar emergency service), and other times it connects to external items (like your smartphone). As far as infotainment is concerned, mobile connectivity is undoubtedly the most popular use. The capability now comes standard in more than 95% of new vehicles. However, other uses are beginning to show their worth too.

For example, some connected cars now notify the dealership when it’s almost time for an oil change. A technician then sends you a friendly email reminder with a link to schedule. Teslas take things a step further. (When don’t they?) The vehicles’ Live Issue Detection not only self-diagnoses maintenance and repair issues, but also automatically pre-orders replacement parts.

Connected cars are also considered part of the “internet of things” – a buzz phrase that basically refers to smart devices. As more smart devices ‘come online,’ so to speak, they transmit data to one another. This may not be exciting if you’re imagining a smart kitchen appliance or lightbulb, but consider the benefit of having a car that could “talk” to a smart traffic light or toll booth – or other vehicles for that matter.

Infographic explaining what bidirectional vehicle communication looks like

Indeed, this is where vehicle safety experts’ heads are at. As cars become more intelligent and eventually autonomous, this “V2X” (or vehicle-to-everything) connectivity will be critical. Robot-led vehicles will be able to navigate crowded streets or cruise at highway speeds simply by holding bi-directional conversations with infrastructure, other vehicles, and even the smartphone in a pedestrian’s pocket.

5G Capability

Going hand-in-hand with increased connectivity, 5G capability is what will make it possible for all these smart devices to be chattering away on the same wireless network. The term itself simply refers to the fifth generation of mobile technology, but how it stands to change connectivity is a little more complex.

In addition to being 100x faster than 4G (in theory), 5G also offers extremely reliable response times. This means, multiple specialist-type devices can connect to one network – as well as to each other – without everything crashing. (Kind of important when vehicles are driving themselves.) As for infotainment applications, 5G will allow for higher-definition maps, delay-free music streaming, and on-demand video entertainment. It can also allow for real-time weather updates and traffic reports.

Highly stylized infographic depicting 5G connected infotainment system

Unfortunately, implementing a 5G infrastructure is an expensive endeavor for telecommunications companies. So, while your next vehicle or smartphone may be 5G capable, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have reliable access to 5G speeds everywhere you go.

Additionally, as is the case with all increased connectivity, security can be a sticking point. Unreliable networks open the door to unwanted surveillance, location tracking, and the transmission of sensitive data, like your home address or frequently traveled routes. There are certainly some bugs to work out, but 5G is coming (and it plans to stick around.)

OTA Updates

An innovation started by Tesla, “over-the-air” (OTA) updates are pretty much what they sound like. Vehicle owners can update onboard systems remotely via WiFi, similar to how your smartphone wirelessly downloads new software or bug fixes.

Many automakers employ infotainment OTA updates to improve the in-car experience. These can include refreshing map information, upgrading audio and video features, and adding new interfaces, streaming services, or apps. Similar to the other trends on this list, OTA updates also have great potential outside entertainment use. For example, drive control OTA updates enhance operational safety by providing upgrades to critical vehicle systems.

With vehicles getting more complex every day and the talent pool of qualified automotive technicians thinning, OTA updates present automakers and dealerships with a time and money-saving solution. They cut down on in-person visits for software-related recalls, and ensure quick response times for any needed compliance/safety updates. However, as OTA updates rely on wireless connections, security and privacy can be a concern.

WirelessAir is an advanced wireless controller from Air Lift that lets you rule your air spring system, no strings attached. Enjoy one-touch inflation and deflation of your air springs from inside or outside the vehicle, with the ability to adjust each air spring independently to different pressures.

Virtual Reality/Gaming & Cinematic Spaces

As more autonomous features take over the nuanced aspects of driving, automakers are finding new ways to fill the gaps in our attention spans. At CES, BMW introduced its rear-seat cinema lounge, complete with a 31.3-inch panorama screen display, 8K resolution, and 5G connectivity. More recently, Jeep rose eyebrows when it announced the addition of Amazon Fire TV in its new Grand Wagoneer. At the SXSW conference, tech company Holoride announced its headset-based virtual-reality entertainment system will debut in certain Audi models. The trippy new technology could be here in just a few short months.

It’s official: novel (and novelty) amenities are entering the mainstream.

While we’re unsure of the “stickiness” of an infotainment trend like backseat cinema spaces, we can definitely see in-car VR hanging around – especially one set up like Holoride’s. Blending augmented reality with the physical world (similar to how a Snapchat filter works), Holoride pulls from a car’s navigational data to motion-synchronize a player’s game to their driving experience. That means, as the vehicle turns left or accelerates, so does whatever you’re operating in the game. Talk about a great way to keep the kids entertained!

The effective rollout of 5G will play a big part in the success of these automotive VR gaming companies. With high speed and low latency, 5G will ensure players don’t experience any lag or skipping, which could lead to some seriously nauseous car rides.

More AI

Whether or not you’re comfortable with virtual assistants is a moot point these days. The ever-present, always-listening devices already share our smartphones and living spaces, it was only a matter of time before they began hitching a ride in our vehicles.

Designed to improve driver experiences, these assistants help with simple tasks via voice command. Drivers can ask their onboard Alexa or Siri to make a phone call, look up directions, start playing a podcast, or even research local restaurants. More recently, automakers began equipping these assistants with artificial intelligence (AI) to afford them a better understanding of the vehicle — and the driver. For example, Mercedes’ MBUX recognizes the phrase “I’m cold” as an indirect command to turn down the A/C. BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant memorizes a driver’s preferences and sets the cabin accordingly upon start-up.

What’s next? Well, already in-cabin assistants are syncing with home systems to remotely set the temperature or lock the doors. They can also order takeout and book appointments. Stuck in traffic? Alexa just found a lovely scenic route that can shave 5 minutes off your arrival time. Essentially, personalized comfort is the name of the game.

Man drives connected vehicle as on-screen call outs depict how AI infotainment trends make for a more personalized driving experience

However, the tech whiz kids of the world are thinking bigger than that.

Future Applications

Companies like Affectiva are focusing less on improving AI’s IQ, and more on expanding its EQ, or emotional intelligence. Basically, the software is learning how to detect — and interpret — human emotions, as well as the complex cognitive states, activities, interactions, and objects that people use.

That means, this technology can tell the difference between a distracted driver and one who is falling asleep at the wheel. It can then make a noise to alert the driver or even pull the car over to a safe stop. The system can also identify objects inside the vehicle, such as an occupied child’s car seat, and remind the driver of such when the vehicle parks.

The safety potential is clear. However, like many of the infotainment trends on this list, it comes at a cost to privacy. This level of detection requires a bevy of interior sensing systems and cameras, which many consumers may find unsettling. Some systems even use voice analysis and biometric cues to better understand a driver’s emotional state. (Are they merely frustrated, or in a bout of road rage?) Useful, to be sure, but such a feature would require speech monitoring and possibly, recording.

The takeaway seems to be that when it comes to next-gen technology, you can’t quite have your cake and eat it too. However, if you don’t mind sacrificing a few personal privacies, it’s a brave new world of convenience and entertainment.

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