At Apple’s annual World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) held last month, the world’s most valuable company announced a wide range of features for the new iOS 6, one of which had very little to do with your actual phone experience.
The aforementioned feature is known as Siri Eyes Free and its chief aim is to make a safer and more interactive driving experience thanks to Apple’s incredible voice activation technology. The feature can be compared to having a co-pilot integrated into the hardware of your vehicle thanks to a steering wheel mounted button created to work with Siri on your Smartphone.
Although similar technology exists, mainly Microsoft Sync which is found in Ford vehicles, Siri’s popularity and most importantly its ability to conduct a multitude of tasks make it understandably more useful. Thus far, the auto manufacturers who have partnered with Apple to bring this technology to its drivers includes BMW, GM, Mercedes Benz, Land Rover, Jaguar, Audi, Toyota and Honda.
Although little is currently known beyond the parties involved, most of their new model vehicles feature Bluetooth and voice activation buttons. Rather than dabble in expensive hardware changes that limit them exclusively to Siri integration, it is assumed that manufacturers will work closely with Apple however allow other similar systems for non-iOS drivers.
Either way, the collaboration represents a positive step forward for driving safety thanks to one’s ability to remain focused on driving while also being able to program destinations, request restaurants within an area or place a phone call. Ironically, Smartphones which are regularly blamed for distracting drivers may be the medium which holds the solution for creating safer drivers. Siri even possesses the ability to recite and write text messages on a user’s behalf, making it a veritable personal assistant for any driver who can’t help but text while driving.
The only area that deserves some concern is whether or not any limitations will be put on how Smartphones and Siri are integrated for drivers. For example, if a driver can ask Siri to open apps, they are creating other potential distractions that are worse than those that currently exist. Given that auto manufacturers have a duty to make driving safer, we sincerely hope that Siri is harnessed and controlled in order to maximize its use for driving related tasks only. Certain Eyes Free ready cars are expected to be on the road within 12 months.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_xgjxcGGcE
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