Back in 2012, we heard farsighted, nonetheless realistic revelations regarding some of the ideas, Apple's (Apple.Inc) Late co-founder, Steve Jobs had in mind. Amongst the ocean of brilliant ideas, the one which was ahead of its time, was the iCar.
He dreamt of a future where innovation would go head on against established automakers and their 'routinic' ways of innovation. Famously called 'take on Detroit'. Steve Jobs, did not live long enough to see it to fruition, but by some estimates if it had, it would have taken "50 percent of the automarket" according to J. Crew CEO and Apple board member Mickey Drexler, who was the one who revealed Job's dream of an iCar. Drexler added "You know, Apple has 10 products," he said. "The living room they're dealing with at some point in the near future." Speaking at Fast Company's Innovation Uncensored conference. This was back in May, 2012.
Offcourse, at a lower level Apple.Inc did strike deals with three major car makers to offer iPod connectors in new models. As reported in the WSJ it "teamed up with Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp.and Japanese Ford-affiliate Mazda Motors Corp. to offer "seamless" integration of Apple's iPod portable music players" That is a far cry from Steve Job's 'take on Detroit' mission with his iCar dream, nonetheless it was a step forward towards fully marrying IT & Cars to give birth to what we call 'Artificially Intelligent Car(s)' or AIC, a car with a mind of its own, a car that can reason and learn, thus developing its cognitive framework, reinforced with live updates every passing second.
We have smartPhones, smartTVs, even smartFlios (intentionally mentioned), why shouldn't we have AICs? That is the vision Automakers and Technology companies have come to share. Merge technology with a car, and create a car, which literally will be 'self-aware'. Gartner analyst +Thilo Koslowski said about creating a self-aware car "Cars will become the first robot most of us experience in our lifetime" To spell it out, it means cars will not only be able to communicate with their internal systems, continuously in-sync with location data update, but it will be able to recognize and adapt to changes in its immediate environment in real time.
Think about everything from being able to read the traffic lights, plot and navigate, being able to predict traffic statuses through continuous learning feeds from other integrated systems and in some cases, where the car deems the driver unfit, it will take "over control from the driver, if so desired" Lucas Mearian, an IT author at CW revealed. The prospect of an Artificially Intelligent Car, which based on pre-determined artificial learning processes, draws its decision on whether a driver is fit to drive or not, is a rather interesting fact worth pondering on. A car that can tell if you're under the influence, or if you're a thief trying to rob an AIC, you'd be in for literally the ride of your life, the doors are shut, and you're driven off to the nearest police station. Suppose the car systems get hacked what then? suppose for some reason you piss off Anonymous, your car gets hacked what then? not sure if any anti-virus might be of use then.
But, the notion of a self-aware car is gaining steam, not just from automakers but even ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and Mobile Carriers; to provide the much needed connectivity for your applications and the whole online ecosystem at your disposal in what is now euphemistically called 'The Internet Of Things', which is a reality where everything and everyone, anything and anyone will be connected, put simply EarthOnline, this will be achieved by providing everyone with unique identifiers and " the ability to automatically transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction."AT&T is taking the lead, in providing the backbone for that connectivity. According to Koslowski who stated that "AT&T has already said they will have that in GM vehicles going forward," he went on to say that "Cars will be the predominant platform for the Internet of Things. It may even be mandated that your car have connectivity, instead of it being a luxury."
Google.Inc is one of the big names making head waves in this new love affair between car & technology. Google's Self-Driving Car. Judging by its name, its pretty obvious how Google sees the future, a 'driverless' future. Google's Self-Driving car is powered by the Google Chauffeur software.
Google has a lot of products in its itinerary, which collectively can give a somewhat accurate profile of our online lives. But how best to get to the data offline? by plugging in our offline coordinates. It is a step towards what some might argue as having your own ecosystem of information powered by one source connected to your vehicle. I'd hate to have a self-aware connected car that looses connection or service while going up a cliff.
Google does not stop there, it has also challenged its fiercest rival Apple, in the smart dashboard market. Google together with "Audi, General Motors (GM), Honda, Hyundai, Audi and processor chip company Nvidia" join forces to form the Open Automotive Alliance. In the official Android blog; they talks about why this alliance is necessary " Google has teamed up with automotive and technology leaders Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai and Nvidia to form the Open Automotive Alliance (OAA), a global alliance aimed at accelerating auto innovation with an approach that offers openness, customization and scale." This will allow Android developers the appropriate room to develop an infotainment system based on Android to challenge Apple's existing smart dashboard market share, and go into new realms never dreamt of.
Despite this bold move by Google, it still has a steep mountain to climb, to meet Apple's alliance with Mercedes-Benz USA, Volvo, Nissan, Alfa Romeo, Honda Motors and Ferrari. But we must point out, unlike the connected devices market, the current allegiance of Tech Companies like Google & Apple with automakers, is by noway one way allegiance. As the recent CES 2014 showed, allegiances can change or be at two different places at the same time as Julia Strydom sited in her report "In 2013, Honda, General Motors and Hyundai signed on with Apple, and, surprise surprise, yesterday (at the CES 2014) they also signed on with the OAA." So pledges shouldn't be taken as commitments, especially from automakers who are still looking for any lifeline to re-invent themselves to attract a new generation of consumers.
Another silent yet upcoming figure in this romance between the 'ladies of tech' and 'gents of auto', is Microsoft. Unlike its much dreaded competitors, Microsoft has not been in the headline for its contribution to the 'smartCar' market. But it combined forces with FIAT Auto to develop Blue&Me which is a technology "that allows drivers to pair their phones with Fiat, Alpha Romeo and Lancia cars via Bluetooth. The platform let's users make hands free telephone calls, listen to text messages and play music files without the need to take hands of the wheel. Blue&Me also offers navigation and a program that helps to optimize fuel consumption, among other options."
Is this the era of a "ConnectedEarth" where smartCars will be the order of the day? The Tech Industry says "Yes", the automakers say "Yes", but what about consumers, you and i? What do we say...According to a survey by Gartner, we say "Yes" too. Here's how they broke it down
"57% of vehicle owners said they want technology vendors to influence decisions about their car's mobile capabilities in the years ahead. Forty-three percent want automakers to be the main influencer of mobile tech.
The survey also revealed that 47% of respondents want to use mobile apps while driving. At the same time, 89% said they're concerned that access to in-vehicle mobile apps will be a driving distraction."
So the jury is out, a self-aware car with an AI mind of its own, at the helm of the steering wheel, while you watch your favourite movie, driving you off safetly to your destination, a car that will be more aware of your surrounding than you, welcome to a smartWorld, where everything and everyone is connected, where cars are smart enough to know if you should be driving or not. I wonder what smartCop cars will look like? I know i know, Knight Rider!
Additional Useful Links
He dreamt of a future where innovation would go head on against established automakers and their 'routinic' ways of innovation. Famously called 'take on Detroit'. Steve Jobs, did not live long enough to see it to fruition, but by some estimates if it had, it would have taken "50 percent of the automarket" according to J. Crew CEO and Apple board member Mickey Drexler, who was the one who revealed Job's dream of an iCar. Drexler added "You know, Apple has 10 products," he said. "The living room they're dealing with at some point in the near future." Speaking at Fast Company's Innovation Uncensored conference. This was back in May, 2012.
Offcourse, at a lower level Apple.Inc did strike deals with three major car makers to offer iPod connectors in new models. As reported in the WSJ it "teamed up with Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp.and Japanese Ford-affiliate Mazda Motors Corp. to offer "seamless" integration of Apple's iPod portable music players" That is a far cry from Steve Job's 'take on Detroit' mission with his iCar dream, nonetheless it was a step forward towards fully marrying IT & Cars to give birth to what we call 'Artificially Intelligent Car(s)' or AIC, a car with a mind of its own, a car that can reason and learn, thus developing its cognitive framework, reinforced with live updates every passing second.
We have smartPhones, smartTVs, even smartFlios (intentionally mentioned), why shouldn't we have AICs? That is the vision Automakers and Technology companies have come to share. Merge technology with a car, and create a car, which literally will be 'self-aware'. Gartner analyst +Thilo Koslowski said about creating a self-aware car "Cars will become the first robot most of us experience in our lifetime" To spell it out, it means cars will not only be able to communicate with their internal systems, continuously in-sync with location data update, but it will be able to recognize and adapt to changes in its immediate environment in real time.
Think about everything from being able to read the traffic lights, plot and navigate, being able to predict traffic statuses through continuous learning feeds from other integrated systems and in some cases, where the car deems the driver unfit, it will take "over control from the driver, if so desired" Lucas Mearian, an IT author at CW revealed. The prospect of an Artificially Intelligent Car, which based on pre-determined artificial learning processes, draws its decision on whether a driver is fit to drive or not, is a rather interesting fact worth pondering on. A car that can tell if you're under the influence, or if you're a thief trying to rob an AIC, you'd be in for literally the ride of your life, the doors are shut, and you're driven off to the nearest police station. Suppose the car systems get hacked what then? suppose for some reason you piss off Anonymous, your car gets hacked what then? not sure if any anti-virus might be of use then.
But, the notion of a self-aware car is gaining steam, not just from automakers but even ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and Mobile Carriers; to provide the much needed connectivity for your applications and the whole online ecosystem at your disposal in what is now euphemistically called 'The Internet Of Things', which is a reality where everything and everyone, anything and anyone will be connected, put simply EarthOnline, this will be achieved by providing everyone with unique identifiers and " the ability to automatically transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction."AT&T is taking the lead, in providing the backbone for that connectivity. According to Koslowski who stated that "AT&T has already said they will have that in GM vehicles going forward," he went on to say that "Cars will be the predominant platform for the Internet of Things. It may even be mandated that your car have connectivity, instead of it being a luxury."
Google.Inc is one of the big names making head waves in this new love affair between car & technology. Google's Self-Driving Car. Judging by its name, its pretty obvious how Google sees the future, a 'driverless' future. Google's Self-Driving car is powered by the Google Chauffeur software.
Google has a lot of products in its itinerary, which collectively can give a somewhat accurate profile of our online lives. But how best to get to the data offline? by plugging in our offline coordinates. It is a step towards what some might argue as having your own ecosystem of information powered by one source connected to your vehicle. I'd hate to have a self-aware connected car that looses connection or service while going up a cliff.
Google does not stop there, it has also challenged its fiercest rival Apple, in the smart dashboard market. Google together with "Audi, General Motors (GM), Honda, Hyundai, Audi and processor chip company Nvidia" join forces to form the Open Automotive Alliance. In the official Android blog; they talks about why this alliance is necessary " Google has teamed up with automotive and technology leaders Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai and Nvidia to form the Open Automotive Alliance (OAA), a global alliance aimed at accelerating auto innovation with an approach that offers openness, customization and scale." This will allow Android developers the appropriate room to develop an infotainment system based on Android to challenge Apple's existing smart dashboard market share, and go into new realms never dreamt of.
Despite this bold move by Google, it still has a steep mountain to climb, to meet Apple's alliance with Mercedes-Benz USA, Volvo, Nissan, Alfa Romeo, Honda Motors and Ferrari. But we must point out, unlike the connected devices market, the current allegiance of Tech Companies like Google & Apple with automakers, is by noway one way allegiance. As the recent CES 2014 showed, allegiances can change or be at two different places at the same time as Julia Strydom sited in her report "In 2013, Honda, General Motors and Hyundai signed on with Apple, and, surprise surprise, yesterday (at the CES 2014) they also signed on with the OAA." So pledges shouldn't be taken as commitments, especially from automakers who are still looking for any lifeline to re-invent themselves to attract a new generation of consumers.
Another silent yet upcoming figure in this romance between the 'ladies of tech' and 'gents of auto', is Microsoft. Unlike its much dreaded competitors, Microsoft has not been in the headline for its contribution to the 'smartCar' market. But it combined forces with FIAT Auto to develop Blue&Me which is a technology "that allows drivers to pair their phones with Fiat, Alpha Romeo and Lancia cars via Bluetooth. The platform let's users make hands free telephone calls, listen to text messages and play music files without the need to take hands of the wheel. Blue&Me also offers navigation and a program that helps to optimize fuel consumption, among other options."
Is this the era of a "ConnectedEarth" where smartCars will be the order of the day? The Tech Industry says "Yes", the automakers say "Yes", but what about consumers, you and i? What do we say...According to a survey by Gartner, we say "Yes" too. Here's how they broke it down
"57% of vehicle owners said they want technology vendors to influence decisions about their car's mobile capabilities in the years ahead. Forty-three percent want automakers to be the main influencer of mobile tech.
The survey also revealed that 47% of respondents want to use mobile apps while driving. At the same time, 89% said they're concerned that access to in-vehicle mobile apps will be a driving distraction."
So the jury is out, a self-aware car with an AI mind of its own, at the helm of the steering wheel, while you watch your favourite movie, driving you off safetly to your destination, a car that will be more aware of your surrounding than you, welcome to a smartWorld, where everything and everyone is connected, where cars are smart enough to know if you should be driving or not. I wonder what smartCop cars will look like? I know i know, Knight Rider!
Additional Useful Links
- Kia shows off its Android-based infotainment system --http://goo.gl/ijSavS
- The Mobile (R)evolution --http://goo.gl/yfkFsJ
- CES 2014: Bosch's mySPIN creates mobile apps platform for cars http://goo.gl/isNgl5
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