The automobile - a machine invented for transportation - is now a digital component in our connected ecosystems.
Drivers and passengers often take for granted the seamless interconnectivity for when their car plays secretary to phone calls and text messages, offers precise navigation and even DJs' playlists. More importantly, it improves the safety of occupants, thanks to features like crash sensing and reporting. These are features that were unfathomable just 10 to 15 years ago, and are now basic features for many models and automakers.
But that's table stakes for today. The future has even more exciting innovations in store, which will continue to obfuscate the boundaries between automotive mechanical, electronics and digital systems. Picture this...
Not only will your car power your commute, but it may also power your home and help utility operators smooth out the ripples of alternative energy. And when you get there, you may find a warm fireplace and ambience, triggered moments before you walked in the door.
The next day, you find your car with a new firmware update, delivered by cellular networks. This update includes a chatbot assistant - now the quickest detour is a spoken command away. All the while, the commute has become safer, quicker and more efficient.
The impact of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies will extend far beyond devices - it promises to redefine humanity's relationship with the automobile.
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