Smartphones on Wheels: Connected Cars Add Touchscreens and Apps

By Rob Scott
February 13, 2012

Kickstarting a new era of connected cars, auto manufacturers are adding larger touchscreen displays to vehicle dashboards and providing more software applications.
“Undaunted by fear of safety regulations, auto makers are piling new technologies into their vehicles: everything from 17-inch dashboard screens to services that check Facebook and buy movie tickets,” reports the Wall Street Journal.
GM is launching an 8-inch display this spring, for example, designed to assist drivers with playing music, providing navigation guidance and going through online applications with touch, steering wheel or voice controls.
“Ford Motor Co. already allows drivers to receive Twitter feeds and stream online music through its Sync technology,” adds WSJ. “New Mercedes-Benz cars this spring will tap into Facebook and perform Google searches.”
“There is more to come, too,” suggest the article. “Software to import iPhone and Android applications is around the corner.”
Auto makers say the hands-free steering wheel and voice control features of the systems are safe, but not all regulators agree. The Transportation Department is developing a set of electronics guidelines for manufacturers and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration is expected to release a report later this year that will examine whether these technologies are a distraction.

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