Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Auto Makers To Standardize On Open Source

Posted by Soulskill on from the making-sure-drivers-can't-play-video-games dept.

Lucas123 writes "There are efforts underway within the auto industry to create a standard, Linux-based platform for In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) systems so that cars will act more like smartphones instead of having only about 10% of that functionality today. For example, Tesla's Model S IVI system, which is based on Linux, is designed to allow drivers to navigate using Google Maps with live traffic information, listen to streaming music from any online radio station and have access to an Internet browser for news or restaurant reviews. Having an industry-wide open-source IVI operating system would create a reusable platform consisting of core services, middleware and open application layer interfaces that eliminate the redundant efforts to create separate proprietary systems by automakers and their tier 1 suppliers like Microsoft. By developing an open-source platform, carmakers can share upgrades as they arrive."

4 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. No, bad idea by h4rr4r · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Just make the damn thing take in bluetooth and HDMI. The car infotainment should have no brains. Just let it run off of a normal device the user already owns.

    1. Re:No, bad idea by capnkid · · Score: 5, Interesting

      What about receiving engine info, warnings regarding brake pads, fuel consumption, etc, etc? An established protocol that could link this to a mobile device would make sense. Not sure why this wasn't done with bluetooth ages ago...

    2. Re:No, bad idea by MBGMorden · · Score: 5, Informative

      Technically while I don't think one should have to rely on a phone for this (see my comment on this thread), such adapters already exist. Virtually all modern cars have an ODB II port for which you can buy a bluetooth device that'll transmit to a phone app (the one that I use is called Torque).

      They're literally less than $15:
      http://www.amazon.com/Newest-Bluetooth-Diagnostic-Scanner-Adapter/dp/B009F4JHHO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381342473&sr=8-1&keywords=bluetooth+auto+diagnostic

      Most people just don't seem to care that much to check, but I was able to use mine to effectively diagnose a misfiring issue I had with my car as a bad spark plug. Saved a lot of money versus taking it to a mechanic.

      --
      "People who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."-Mark Twain
  2. Show of hands ... by gstoddart · · Score: 5, Insightful

    OK, show of hands, how many of us want our cars to behave like smartphones?

    Now, the second show of hands, how many of us think this is probably not what you want in the dash of your car?

    Driving your car is not the place to be reading restaurant reviews, and once some moron can text from his dash, we'll get the same problem we have with people with their phones now. Hell, from what I can tell if you put most people in a car with the radio off, they still wouldn't be able to safely operate the car.

    I don't imagine it would be long before places started outlawing using the screen in your car for some of this stuff while you're driving.

    Me, I think most forms of 'infotainment' in a car is a potentially fatal combination. I see enough drivers that can't actually stay within their lane now, let alone while trying to catch up on Breaking Bad while in their car. The last thing most drivers need is even more shiny things to distract them while driving.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.