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Aug 16, 2023

What shall be the three components of the 'best' infotainment system?

Connected technologies are expanding the borders of safety, comfort, and efficiency for vehicles, and one core component of connectivity is, no doubt, infotainment systems. The complex technology has

Connected technologies are expanding the borders of safety, comfort, and efficiency for vehicles, and one core component of connectivity is, no doubt, infotainment systems. The complex technology has been going through a thorough development process over the years but not solely in the hands of car manufacturers; instead, third-party providers. Hakan Keskin, Product Technical Program Manager at Google, reviews infotainment systems and what critical components they must have to provide the best safety and comfort while boosting competitive advantage.

"An infotainment system is a comprehensive in-vehicle multimedia platform that integrates information and entertainment services seamlessly", describes Hakan. To him, it is especially essential to accelerate the development of infotainment systems as they provide crucial competitive advantages to OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) over their competitors:

"Nowadays, it's almost impossible to find people willing to buy a car without integration with their phones, such as Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, as it has become a minimum requirement. Today we have different kinds of infotainment systems. OEM infotainment systems are designed and manufactured by the car manufacturer and are typically integrated into the car's dashboard. Other than the car manufacturer, third parties provide aftermarket infotainment systems. These systems can be installed in any car but may have some integration issues. The baseline of infotainment systems are smartphone-based, such as Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which provide infotainment features. These systems typically connect to the car's display and speakers and can be used to control music playback, navigation, and other functions."

The advanced features of infotainment systems are the breaking point in the competition between OEMs, says Hakan. "Infotainment systems will play a pivotal role in OEM competition. Integration with the car's hardware and seamless data flow between the vehicle and the infotainment system will be a crucial competitive advantage."

And what are these benefits? An infotainment system can give drivers important information about their surroundings and the vehicle's status. For example, an infotainment system can display the car's battery level, range, and charging status. It can also show the car's current speed, revolutions per minute (RPM), and other performance data. This information can be helpful for drivers to stay informed about the car's condition and make informed decisions about driving.

It has been a long process for infotainment systems to emerge as a feature in smartphones and then become the partially or fully-integrated information and navigation system of most vehicles. The infotainment system has developed significantly in hardware and software qualities, says Hakan, and provides even more features and services thanks to the advancement in connected technologies. He lists the most important developments below:

To Hakan, the pace of technological development and the complexity that emerges through it is too much for most OEMs.

"The new generation of cars, especially electric vehicles (EVs), should be built with software that enables seamless integration with every car component while ensuring robust security measures. However, many OEMs were not adequately prepared and are still facing challenges."

There are many reasons why it so so hard to build a new generation of infotainment systems, he says, and lists the following three items as the biggest challenges:

To gain the upper hand in the infotainment battleground, Hakan lists three components to achieve the 'best infotainment system':

"I believe that the key to winning the race lies in securing superior voice control technology, similar to Google Assistant's version for cars and security for cyberattacks while protecting the privacy of the car owners", says Hakan.

The main image is courtest of Shutterstock, 2236069151. The in-article photo shows Hakan Keskin, Product Technical Program Manager at Google. The comments in the article represent the expert's views.