Evolution of In-Car Technology, Entertainment Systems, Parking, and More

Cars are becoming more like a little home on wheels in some ways, especially if you’re a passenger. More of the home comforts we enjoy are now available in the car, and combine this with the fact that our mobile devices can connect to the car’s entertainment system and there are a lot of possibilities. Getting in a car 20 years ago was extremely different from getting in a car now, and we’re looking at some of the ways that they’ve evolved.

Multimedia Systems

Every car model has some differences, but even some mid-range cars have a lot of media functionality. Some car entertainment systems have become full-blown infotainment centers. Touchscreens serve as the command center for all your media needs and to make it even easier, these systems integrate with a smartphone.

People use Google Maps to navigate and even listen to Apple Music while they’re on the road – people can even send texts using voice commands. It’s like having your smartphone built right into your car.

Elite cars even have new systems that can include entertainment for passengers. Some of them have big screens so that people can connect with their phones or even use them as a tablets while on the go.

Some of the screens can play movies and other media. Some high-end models offer individual screens for each seat, allowing everyone to watch or play whatever they want – games for these screens are usually relatively simple and slot games have found another niche in in-car entertainment. Slot games appeal to some as a quick game to play during journeys, and they don’t require too much close control (if you’re in the car, it can be tricky).

Some tablets and screens in cars, especially in the rear seats allow passengers to cast their phones and connect their accounts, so they may choose to play online slots for real money while they’re being driven to their destination. Mobile games work very well for passengers, so people can simply cast their screens to the back of a headrest and play (depending on the model of the car).

Games are a pastime a lot of people enjoy, and when being driven around it can make sense to have something to do besides looking out of the window, so this is when some people choose to get a gaming session in.

Parking

If someone told you a few years ago you might not need to use mirrors at all to park a car, you wouldn’t have believed it. Cameras have become normal but some cars even make use of sensor systems.

Parking itself is not the only aspect that technology has changed, people can actually find a car parking space while on the go now, using Maps apps on their phones. Even EV drivers looking for specialist EV parking spaces can find them while they’re in the car (or the passenger/navigator can do the job.

Navigation

Speaking of navigators, most cars now offer advanced navigation features or at least the option to connect your phone. Real-time traffic updates are available as well as information on routes and ETAs.

Sat Nav systems were new technology 20 years ago, but they’re embedded in cars now or connected via a phone – systems can even predict traffic patterns and suggest alternative routes to save you. Reading a physical map has become a rare skill!

Voice Control

We really do live in a sci-fi film from 30 years ago. It feels that way, anyway. Voice assistants felt like they were from a Kubrick classic, but now they’re part of everyday life.

Voice control comes through systems like Siri which is on all modern iPhones, so if you have an iPhone connected to your car it will be usable with the multimedia system.

Want to hear a specific song? Just ask. Perhaps more importantly, if you need directions to the nearest store then it can also do this in a matter of seconds – systems even use algorithms to learn your preferences and make suggestions based on your habits.

What’s in the Car of the Future?

Entertainment is poised to become even more exciting even if you’re in the car. Augmented reality (AR) is on the horizon and could potentially project the information directly onto the windshield. Imagine seeing arrows guiding you to your destination or highlighting points of interest as you drive.

Autonomous driving is a fair way down the road (pun intended) but it is likely that this will eventually happen. Hard to believe roads where nobody has to drive, but a standardized system could let technology do the job and free up more time for people.

Much of the technology used is new at the moment so it is still pretty expensive, but as time goes on the prices could come down, and it could become more accessible for everybody and even budget cars to have a load of tech features included.