BY KATO MURRAY
“The future is already here—it’s just not evenly distributed,” said science fiction author William Gibson in 2003. Although he was alluding to how technology was slowly integrating into our daily lives, and not referring to my personal struggles of still not having a PlayStation 5 after more than two years. As we look ahead to 2023 and beyond, Gibson’s statement only rings truer, and we can expect to see several exciting technological advancements that will continue to shape the way we live, work, and communicate. From virtual and augmented reality to artificial intelligence and machine learning, this next year is sure to bring a host of innovations that will change the way we interact with the world around us. After all, January was when many of use where introduced to the fascinating ChatGPT, so I can only imagine what’s next. If upgrading to an EV this year was the pinnacle of being tech savvy, be ready to have your mind blown.
↹Autonomous Vehicles and Vehicle Technology
Holoride VR
Holoride, a company that pushes the boundaries of in-car entertainment, unveiled their new virtual reality device at the highly influential Consumer Electronics Show—better known as CES—in Las Vegas this past January. The device, which is about the size of the average smart speaker, can be retrofitted into any vehicle to make it VR ready. Up to two headsets can be connected to the Holoride simultaneously, allowing passengers to enjoy Holoride at the same time while traveling. Holoride uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze the car’s motion in real time, combining that with the head movements of the wearer to reduce the possibility for motion sickness while improving the travel experience for its wearers.
BMW’s i Vision Dee HUD
Dee, or Digital Emotional Experience, allow drivers a choice of how much augmented reality they want to see as they drive. Using a five-step selection, drivers can choose what data they want to see on their head-up display, which could be limited to driving-related information or include data from their other communications systems as well. Beyond that, they can experience an augmented reality project or enjoy a completely virtual experience with blacked-out windows (never fear, that setting is only available when driving autonomously).
The midsize sedan also has an e-ink exterior and can quickly change between a combination of 32 colors, providing an even further level of customization. Right now, the vehicle is just in the concept stage, but they hope to launch sometime in 2025.
Chrysler Synthesis
Chrysler announced the debut of its Synthesis demonstrator, offering a glimpse into the future of the brand’s car interiors. The manufacturer wanted to give special focus to using in-car technology to make “real life” easier. These technologies include a virtual personal assistant that uses biometric recognition, automated driving that allows the driver to conduct video calls and entertainment, and wellness experiences like meditation, games, and karaoke. There’s even a feature that allows customers to create and synthesize their own music for those of you who feel like you missed the opportunity at becoming a DJ or if you want to offer a truly unique experience for your travelers.
Harman’s Focus on Safety
Audio electronics company Harman revealed its suite of automotive features geared toward enhancing the health and safety of drivers and passengers, including an advanced driver-monitoring system (DMS) that can measure a driver’s heart and breath rate.
Harman launched its DMS Ready Care in late 2022 that could measure driver eye activity and state of mind to determine cognitive distraction levels and then have the car initiate a personalized response to help mitigate dangerous driving situations. The company added to the Ready Care product contactless measurement of human vitals levels to further determine a driver’s state of well-being, and, more recently, included an in-cabin radar that will also allow the vehicle to detect if a child is left unattended in the vehicle.
Goodyear’s Sustainable Tire
Here’s one that your environment-conscious clients might be thrilled to hear about. The tire, instead of using petroleum, features soybean oil to keep its rubber compound pliable, silica produced from rice husk ash, and tire cords made from polyester recycled from plastic bottles to make it up to 90 percent sustainable. While no specific release date has been given, the concept tire has passed US Department of Transportation testing, which means that it is 100 percent road ready.
Internet of Things (IoT)
It’s predicted that this year will see more than 43 billion devices connected to the internet. These interconnected devices will generate, share, and collect data that will inform things like machine-based learning and AI to impact real-time change.
One of the prominent trends we will see in the IoT for is the development of smart cities and the role vehicles will play in these landscapes. Smart cities utilize a vast network of sensors connected to the internet that communicate between themselves to build a data map of the surrounding environment. Sensors in cars will collect data about other vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, and road conditions and help city planners assess datapoints such as journey times, bottlenecks, fuel and charging station availability, popular destinations, as well as help recalibrate traffic lights to ease congestion and improve the overall travel experience.
The technology landscape of 2023 is shaping up to be an exciting and dynamic one. We can undoubtedly expect to see further advancements in areas such as quantum computing, the multiverse, and 5G connectivity that are poised to revolutionize the way we live and work. These technologies will bring new opportunities for innovation, productivity, and efficiency and, PlayStation or not, there are plenty of updates to keep an eye on as the year progresses. [CD0223]
Kato Murray is the operations associate for the LMC Groups. He can be reached at kato@lmc.group.