Harman is a leading company that specializes in providing convenience technologies for existing car models. Currently, the company is collaborating with the Fiat group to provide equipment for their car models. Their products are found in both modest models like the Fiat Panda and high-end models like the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.
To learn more about this new wave of technology in cars, we visited Harman’s headquarters in Turin, northern Italy. Interestingly, their headquarters are just a mile away from Fiat’s headquarters.
Most of the company’s research is not ready to hit the market yet. They will be installed in car models produced within the next 10 years. And of course, the future of the company is not limited to just collaborating with Fiat. Many car manufacturers are eagerly anticipating their innovations in the near future.
Harman develops a wide range of technologies, from advanced integrated smart phone systems to installing widescreen TVs in autonomous cars. That is the future of automotive technology.
Remote software updates
By integrating on-board audio with 3G technology – a popular technology in smartphones – manufacturers can remotely update car software. This reduces the hassle for drivers when they need to update software versions to resolve issues or reconfigure the display screen. It can be easily done by programmers who can help update the software remotely. And of course, data files will be split to fit 3G’s bandwidth limitations. If 4G becomes more popular, it will be the preferred choice.
Data collection
Data collection from customers is important for technology companies like Harman as it helps them improve future hardware. Engineers can also cross-reference reports from the in-car entertainment system software to check and prevent regular faults.
In addition, this data will provide accurate feedback on which products customers prefer or which functions are truly necessary. This information will be transferred to manufacturers for them to consider and build the best products for their customers.
Clari-Fi
To accommodate most music devices or smartphones, audio files need to be compressed, but this greatly affects audio quality. Clari-Fi restores what is lost during the music file compression process and can do this with most popular music file formats.
This application is not limited to smartphones’ music files, but it also extends audio directly from major music websites like Youtube or Spotify. Clari-Fi is just an application, so you still need to equip it with hardware devices like a terminal device and an amplifier.
Large Multi-Media Screen
A fully autonomous car is becoming a reality, and this future technology will certainly be popular. In the Rinspeed Tesla Model S concept, a large screen will be placed on the rear window. With this large screen, you can watch movies, play games, and access available content to monitor information while the car is in motion. While the car is being driven autonomously, the two front seats can be turned around to face the back for entertainment. If there are signs of loss of control, you can turn to drive like a normal car.
In-Car Entertainment System in Tablet Form
Currently, tablets are widely used, but they are not really useful for use while driving. The Tesla model will provide a touch screen that functions and sized like a tablet inside the car. Furthermore, it has the ability to control everything in the car’s infotainment system. It will control everything from music to the car’s control settings. This screen can also replace a speedometer and it will automatically switch to autonomous driving mode when the driver is busy or making a phone call.
Oakland infotainment platform
Oakland is a Harman-developed infotainment platform designed to seamlessly integrate devices such as phones, cameras, and other electronic tools. This system is built on the principle like Apple CarPlay, which will create a wireless connection to a smartphone screen to display utilities on the phone. From there, apps like Google Maps can be easily operated and used throughout the journey. Meanwhile, the windshield and rear camera can interact with other smart systems to enhance functionality.
Many competing hardware manufacturers
Currently, Harman’s automotive entertainment technology is being researched and will appear in the latest Fiat models. However, its basic platform and structure are also being studied and developed by other manufacturers. Of course, with the figure of 4 million cars per year, Fiat will choose the lowest-priced units to reduce costs. Therefore, the future utility car market will be very competitive, both in terms of quality and price.
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