One of the questions I’ll be bringing to the 2016 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) is whether the latest generation of infotainment systems has matured sufficiently to make them useful to the average consumer. Until now, cumbersome user interfaces, obscure features, and limited compatibility with mobile devices has kept infotainment systems from realizing their potential to transform the automobile into the “ultimate wearable device.”
From the news I’ve seen so far, it appears that most auto makers have made significant improvements to their infotainment systems which make them easier to use and less of a distraction hazard. Still, I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve gotten some hands-on time with them on the NYIAS show floor. I won’t be able to take a test flight on every dashboard on the show floor, but the companies at the top of my hit list include:
Chevrolet – Android Auto has made its debut in Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system and I’m anxious to see how well it integrates select music streaming apps, Google Maps navigation, and contextual Google Now information in the large touchscreen of a car’s dashboard. Chevy claims to have simplified the user interface with low-distraction visuals with a heavy emphasis on voice command and eyes-free interactions. In a nod to the car-as-wearable concept, Chevy has included a Fitbit-like “gamification” feature in its new Bolt EV which allows Bolt owners to compete over who is driving most efficiently.
Mercedes – Many of Mercedes’ new models feature a knob- and switch-free dashboard, based on a touch screen that contains the odometer, speedometer, and various other gauges, as well as the COMMAND infotainment system and door-to-door navigation. Drivers can sync their smartphones to the MB multimedia system by placing the phone on a special wireless charging/docking area on the console.
Ford – I’m eager to see if Ford’s Sync 3 system is a genuine improvement on the deservedly-maligned earlier versions of the technology. According to Ford, Sync 3 features faster performance, conversational voice recognition, intuitive smartphone-like touch screen an easier-to-understand graphical interface, and Siri Eyes-Free capability for Apple iPhone. Ford is also touting its AppLink which can automatically detect compatible smartphone apps, such as Glympse, iHeart Radio, NPR One, Pandora, and Spotify, integrating their graphics into the display.
BMW –I also want to find out whether the latest version of BMW’s iDrive system has solved the usability issues which dogged earlier models. Having driven a friend’s older 7-series machine, I’ve had some frustrating experiences with their first-gen iDrive’s cryptic, difficult-to-navigate user interface, which requires a degree in computer science to operate. BMW claims to have greatly simplified the Teutonic tangle for 2016 and to have done a much better job of integrating iDrive with Smartphones. In theory, its free connected app for iOS and Android, known as ConnectedDrive, integrates supported apps into the system for direct navigation. For example, when you plug in your iPhone and launch a compatible app, like, say, Spotify or Stitcher, it will push the information to the screen, allowing you to navigate through playlists, tracks, stations, and so on using the rotary wheel. Unfortunately, like many auto-makers, BMW remains Apple-centric, leaving many of the coolest features out of reach for Android owners such as myself.
Until I get some hands-on time with these and other vehicles, I can’t know for sure whether today’s cars are well-enough integrated with our other personal electronics to qualify as true “wearable devices,” but the first signs are certainly hopeful. If you’ve got something to say about this issue, please write me at lee.goldberg@advantagemedia.com. You can also tell me in person if you happen to be at the NYIAC on Friday, March 25 when I’ll be cruising the floor. I’ll be easy to spot – just look for the heavyset guy with a shoulder pack, a Hawaiian shirt, and a big smile on his face.
