Smart Car Revolution is Coming
Back in the olden days (AKA the 1980’s) people looked to the 2020s and imagined a future of flying cars, and they weren’t too far off with their postulations!
In this article we’ll break down just how far we’ve come with smart car technology, and the future of tech in the industry!
Rideshare and Taxis
In today’s high tech driven world, unless you’re in New York City, a genuine taxi is as elusive as a nocturnal creature. However, you’re almost guaranteed to see an Uber sticker plastered on a windshield during your daily commute, or perhaps you’re even considering Uber Eats to save you a trip to the grocery store. It’s undeniable that the rideshare lifestyle is more deeply ingrained in modern society every day.
And how did that happen?
It’s not surprising that in a society that prioritizes convenience, an idea like Uber dominates. But there was a time when a private ride wasn’t just a click away.
Originally founded in 2009 as a ploy to reduce the cost of black car transportation, Uber didn’t become the widely accessible service we know today until 2013. Of course there are many alternative rideshare companies, (Lyft, Ola Cabs, Via, Gett, and many more) but we’ll be focusing on the global impact of Uber for simplicity's sake.
Available in 72 countries, with over 7.6 billion trips carried out, Uber hasn’t just changed the transportation industry, it’s also changing lives! With one being able to secure a job with Uber as long as their car meets a certain standard and they pass a background check, it enables entrepreneurial individuals to pursue an incredibly flexible side hustle.
And as the Super Bowl commercial explained, UberEats now has a LOT more to offer! In a collaboration with Staples, you can get school and office supplies delivered in a snap.
And Uber shall only continue its domination, with plans of expansion including: Autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, and partnerships with public transportation agencies.
Entertainment for Cars
Just as modern society craves convenience, it also longs for constant stimulation. And while I recall watching movies during long road trips in my family van, or listening to audiobook CDs to pass the time on a long drive, in-car entertainment has come a long way, and it’s only continuing to advance!
Let’s start with a walk down memory lane:
With the first car radio dating back to the 1930’s, it's been a great almost 100 years of audio being the main form of in-car entertainment. With a less successful attempt at an in-car phonograph, then a more successful attempt with the 4-track and 8-track record, the 60’s were a swingin’ time for automobile audio entertainment! Fast forward to the 70’s when, although already popular for a number of years, it took the Sony Walkman to cement cassettes as the standard media of choice, and they were introduced to cars, as well as multi-speaker systems with amplifiers. And finally, the CD. An instant hit, the first CD player for the car came in 1984, with the CDX-1. Soon enough, manufacturers began selling vehicles with built-in CD players, and by the time the 90’s rolled around, one could even purchase multi-CD systems that allowed one to switch between multiple CDs without having to swap them manually. The turn of the century brought with it the MP3 player, which one could store thousands of songs on, and even connect to their car via hard drive! Now we’ve just about caught up to the present, where the cellphone reigns supreme and Bluetooth makes connecting to your car as easy as ever!
And now that we’ve covered what’s been, let’s talk about what’s to come:
With Smartphones being people’s most readily-available source of entertainment, it only makes sense to integrate that technology into our cars, where we lack such easily accessible entertainment. You’ve probably already seen cars with Android Automotive OS and Apple CarPlay, with the next steps in smartphone integration showing up in the form of popular entertainment platforms like Prime Video and YouTube being available in an increasing amount of vehicles!
And beyond streaming, Tesla already offers a variety of games to play when you’re parked and charging, such as Chess and Solitaire, and BMW is working with AirConsole to bring gaming to its cars.
Of course safety is of the utmost concern when increasing the types of in-car entertainment that is available to the public, but there is certainly much to be gained by transforming countless hours of travel time into a personalized entertainment session!
Evolution of Car Design
We’ve come a long way from the “Patent Benz Motor Car” in 1886. Both people and car designs have evolved, leading us to a future that is prioritizing style and sustainability in our cars!
A trend you can look forward to in 2024 car design is a focus on not only efficiency, but artistic expression through style and technology. You’ll also see aerodynamic designs that reduce carbon emissions, as well as electric and hybrid cars taking center stage.
The” intelligent car” is also something you can expect to see a lot of, with the integration of virtual assistants, advanced safety systems, and varying levels of autonomy in cars being seen in more and more models, across a wider range of manufacturers.
And yes folks, the flying car is on its way. With multiple companies developing their own spin on the idea, (such as, the Alef Model A Flying Car, the ASKA A5, and the Samson Sky Switchblade). News of these vehicles that once existed only in science fiction is now being spread far and wide, with models supposedly being available as early as 2026!
Guest Contributor:
Evangeline Merritt
Friend of OMG Labs and classically trained student of ballet, hiphop and modern contemporary styles for over 10 years. Evangeline is interested in the intersection of technology and the arts and is always prepared to dance battle if crossed.
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