How to Bring Mobile Apps into a Car?
Whether one is operating a media company, developing smartphones, manufacturing cars, providing insurance, or even creating apps, the potential benefits of integrating modern vehicles into services are likely understood. However, questions arise: How can one establish effective communication between a vehicle and a phone? How can driver distraction be minimized? And how can one ensure that the chosen solution remains viable throughout the vehicle's lifespan? We will help prepare apps on the road.
What is the situation now?
The decision-making strategy comprises several factors. Firstly, the location of the application needs to be determined - whether it should be stored in the head unit, smartphone, or the cloud. Secondly, the issue of driver distraction control arises, considering which HMI to use and which apps to allow. The third question pertains to integration methods.
Currently, there are various options available, such as SYNC AppLink, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, proprietary SDKs, and more. The wide selection of technologies and options is due to the new and emerging nature of this concept. Companies are promoting solutions that align with their strategies, business goals, and other motivating factors. While some technologies can coexist in a car simultaneously, this might cause confusion for consumers, which contradicts the purpose of avoiding distractions.
Finding apps on the road can be quite a challenge. If the driver has something to do in the car, and with the help of mobile apps you can also come up with entertainment, then the passengers will be bored. Alternatively, check out Hogwarts Legacy platforms, maybe one of them will fit on the road. The main thing to remember about cyber protection while traveling. To do this, you should figure out how to use VPN and which service to choose.
It can be anticipated that, eventually, a few mainstream integration technologies will dominate, leaving others as niche options. New solutions should be designed with a modular architecture to facilitate smooth migration from one integration technology to another, minimizing costs and minimizing impact on user experience.
Safety is key
When vendors take on the task of integrating an app into a car, their main focus is ensuring a safe interaction between the driver and the app. Consider a hypothetical scenario: driving at 80 km/h. Each second, we cover almost 23 meters, and if we divert our attention to the phone for just three seconds, we neglect driving for a distance of 69 meters, increasing the risk of potential hazards.
According to a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), 80% of crashes and 65% of near-crash situations involve some form of driver distraction occurring within three seconds before the accident.
Adapt your app
Many customers desire to bring their smartphone applications to the car, specifically to the dashboard screen and car speakers, in order to utilize the functionality that has been custom-made and tailored to fit the car's interior. The integration of applications within the smartphone and vehicle environment offers numerous opportunities, provided that they are designed and built by software vendors who are knowledgeable about the unique requirements of the car context.
A well-designed human-machine interface (HMI) and overall user experience are crucial elements for the success of these applications. Striking the right balance between the car's and the user experience constraints gained from modern mobile platforms is essential. But it's also important to keep the cybersecurity of the device in mind. It doesn’t matter if we are talking about a Mac on which you can install Edge free VPN, or an on-board Android device (there is an apk file). Convenience and safety are the cornerstones in this matter.
Furthermore, the possibility of two-way control between the smartphone and the vehicle adds an interesting dimension. It is not just about controlling the phone through the car's HMI, but also being able to adjust car settings, such as turning on the engine or air conditioning, directly from the smartphone screen. Scenarios like remotely activating the engine on a cold winter morning can become routine occurrences.
AppLink
Ford's connectivity technologies, like AppLink, are designed to keep drivers focused on the road. AppLink, a suite of APIs, allows mobile developers to extend command and control of their applications to the vehicle's in-vehicle HMI. This means that functionality normally accessed through touch screens can be controlled using voice commands, steering wheel controls, radio buttons, and capacitive touch screens.
To ensure safety, when an application connects to a Ford vehicle, the device screen is locked to discourage any in-hand interaction. Some categories of mobile apps are restricted from interacting with Ford vehicles to prioritize safe driving. Furthermore, certain content and functionality within approved apps will not be allowed to extend into the in-vehicle experience.
Conclusion
Connectivity and integration of mobile applications in vehicles are still largely uncharted territories. With the right approach, though, they can prove to be a great value for both drivers and automakers. Developers should strive to design solutions that promote safety on the road, protect users' privacy, provide secure data connections, and remain viable throughout the vehicle's lifespan. Using technologies like AppLink, VPNs, and other tools can significantly increase the security of connected cars. It is only then that these applications will become relevant to the auto industry as well as daily drivers.
