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Software-Defined Vehicles Will Dominate At CES (computerworld.com)

Lucas123 writes: Carmakers and their tier 1 parts suppliers at CES in January are expected to launch an unprecedented number of software advances centered around cloud services and over-the-air updates. The number of in-vehicle processors continues to grow, and consumers have come to expect their car to mimic smartphone functionality. As hardware becomes more of a commodity, increasingly cars will be defined by software. There will be about 464 automotive electronics exhibitors at this year's CES — a record number, according to IHS Automotive. Human-machine interface will be a core technology at the show — augmented reality and virtual reality, in the form of gesture recognition and heads up displays, are expected to be among the most cutting-edge features.

Cloud-based speech recognition technology that uses machine learning skills to identify speech patterns more quickly will also be more commonplace. One development the analysts said they're "crossing their fingers" to see at the show is Modular Infotainment Platforms, which allow carmakers to offer the latest electronic systems prior to a model launch. Today, car models are often launched with years-old electronics. Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto are also increasingly undermining the native infotainment system makers' business. Analysts believe all carmakers will eventually offer both APIs in future car models.

3 of 112 comments (clear)

  1. Going to be keeping my car for a while... by SuperKendall · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Those of us that work with software pale at the thought of myriad car components being "software defined".

    I think I'll be hanging on to my mostly hardware defined car for quite a few years as this all plays out...

    Don't get me wrong, I'm no luddite - I want a self-driving car badly. But I also don't like suffering the death of a thousand cuts with small things going inexplicably wrong in a car all the time either.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Going to be keeping my car for a while... by Progman3K · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Thank you for writing out what lots of us are thinking.

      I bought an android 'smartphone' 5 years ago. At the time, it was cutting-edge.

      Now it's constantly locking-up/rebooting and incredibly slow.

      I also can't install many of the newer apps on it because its firmware revision is too ancient(?!).

      I thought "maybe if I go to the telephone vendor and ask if they can upgrade the firmware"

      "Naw, we can't update it, buy a new phone"

      I can just imagine what dumb excuses the car-makers will have.

      --
      I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
  2. cars to mimic smartphone functionality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    your car will only accept vendor approved gasoline.
    The car cockpit display will only work for the first 1000miles after that you have to pay 99cents per day.
    The car will continuously send its location and all other possible personal information, back to the manufacturer, the reseller, the supplier of the aftermarket seat covers and floor mats, and the manufacturer of every smartphone that has even been paired with it.
    While driving on the motorway, a full windshield covering popup will remind you that you still have to upgrade to os 9.2. you can only delay it, not reject it.
    The car will be sold with an artificial mileage limit per month. If you exceed the limit you pay surcharges per mile. Or, if you have the unlimited plan, the cars maximum speed will be 15mph for the remainder of the month.
    If you take your car to another country, the gasoline quadruples in price, the miles per month your car can drive reduces by 90% and there is a 50% chance that the roads in the other country are not compatible with your car.

    sure, customers want cars to mimic smartphone functionality.