Major platform holders like Google and Apple are exploring ways to integrate apps into vehicles to improve the driving experience, while technology providers such as HERE are pursuing a longer-term vision of fully autonomous cars. The automotive industry is clearly on the brink of significant disruption.
Drivers are more willing to accept changes that are introduced gradually, as has been the case with features like cruise control.
Nokia is no stranger to the automotive sector: its HERE mapping services are used by some of the world’s leading automakers. Recently, HERE earned BMW’s Supplier Innovation Award for advances in connected driving.
When Nokia speaks, the industry pays attention.
HERE has been demonstrating the latest iteration of its HERE Auto platform, which shifts its role from a map content supplier to a full-service provider for in-vehicle navigation and connected experiences.
Nokia advocates for embedded systems rather than relying on drivers to connect their smartphones to the car. The company sees embedded solutions as the most reliable path forward for delivering consistent, integrated experiences.
Floris van de Klashorst, head of connected car and smart guidance products at HERE, explains: “With HERE Auto we want to demonstrate how much more powerful embedded navigation systems are compared with simply connecting your smartphone to the vehicle. We’ve advanced the experience to the next generation with several meaningful improvements.”
It can feel unsettling to take your hands off the wheel and let a programmed system take control.
HERE Auto surfaces relevant information at appropriate locations throughout the cockpit and adapts to context. For example, if fuel levels are low, nearby gas stations will automatically appear on the navigation display. The system reduces distractions and brings important information into focus.
Companion apps let passengers interact with the embedded system to browse points of interest along the route and propose updates to the driver’s route, which the driver can accept. The system is smart enough to avoid sending requests at unsafe moments, such as when the driver is approaching an intersection.
Safety first, folks.
What about Nokia’s research into removing the driver entirely? The company still regards full autonomy as an ultimate objective, but recognizes the transition will be gradual. HERE’s automotive research team interviewed drivers aged 21 to 55 and found that many people feel a strong attachment to their cars. German respondents, for example, emphasized that driving can be enjoyable and that nothing quite replicates the thrill of driving on the Autobahn.
On the HERE blog, the team acknowledges that it can be intimidating to hand over control to an automated system. They also point out that drivers are generally more comfortable with incremental changes—such as the stepwise adoption of cruise control—rather than sudden shifts.
Communicating the benefits will be crucial to wider acceptance. Potential advantages include more time spent socializing with passengers and improved safety: studies suggest roughly 90 percent of car accidents are caused, at least in part, by human error.
Autonomous vehicles are likely the future of transportation, but public acceptance will take time and careful development.
How long do you think it will take for autonomous vehicles to be accepted? Let us know in the comments.