Dave Evans, Cisco's chief futurist, shows the company's drag-and-drop vehicle dashboard, which functions much like the screen of a smartphone. (Sherry Tesler / The New York Times)
Computers can be upgraded with software and peripherals, and smartphones are able to add new functions by downloading apps. So why not a similar capability for the device that wields more processing power than either of those?
That would be your car, of course.
In a world where technologies come and go as often as Katy Perry changes her wardrobe, automakers are pressed to keep pace. To ensure that the growing array of electronics — controlling anything from navigation systems to sophisticated anti-lock brakes — do not become obsolete before the car's first oil change, engineers are creating vehicles that can adapt to new technologies and are flexible enough to accommodate future developments.
A wired danger
- Some experimental vehicles — such as A.J., a 2011 Ford Fiesta that sent Twitter messages last summer about its status and location — have allowed researchers to tap directly into the car's Controller Area Network, which communicates with critical systems like the cruise control. Such access raises the fear that malicious hackers could wreak havoc. Developers and automakers say they are aware of the danger and are working on preventative measures.
It's a long way from the image of young hot-rodders installing aftermarket engine computers to increase horsepower; this is about the radical shift to designing cars from the ground up to be upgradeable.
"Cars need to be upgraded — over the air — and they have to have smartphone connections now," says Erik Goldman, president of Hughes Telematics, emphasizing the need for remote wireless car connections that would help owners avoid trips to the dealership.
It's not just about adding iPhone controls or Twitter updates to the dashboard.
Upgradeable means being able to cull diagnostic information from a vehicle through, say, a satellite link, or having the ability to reprogram a transmission controller or recalibrate the braking system while the car is parked in your driveway.
There are two main forces driving this strategy. First, while vehicle design cycles are now as short as two or three years, they still lag well behind the pace of changes in software and communications technology.
The second issue is that as vehicles use more advanced computer technology to improve performance and fuel efficiency, they also require more sophisticated programming.
"The car is becoming the most sophisticated piece of computer equipment you own," says Dave Evans, Cisco's chief futurist. Adopting a new perspective of what's parked in your garage will be required: that car will no longer be simply a mode of transportation, but rather a node on the network, he says.
On the cutting edge of upgrades is Ford. It recently introduced a feature called AppLink that lets drivers use smartphone apps like Pandora and Twitter. But it's more than merely a matter of, say, plugging an iPhone into the dash.
The AppLink programs — all screened and approved by Ford — have access to the driver's controls, including voice commands and buttons on the steering wheel that drivers can use to skip through songs.
Taking a more conservative approach are automakers like Mercedes-Benz and OnStar, a General Motors subsidiary. Mercedes' Mbrace communications system offers basic smartphone applications that allow owners to lock or unlock their vehicles remotely.
OnStar's Mylink app for smartphones is limited to controlling functions like remote door locking, starting the car or checking the fuel level.
The speed of participation may vary, but the upgradeable car is coming, and it promises to offer features that sound fantastic today.
"Future upgrades may include changing the physical shape of the car for each driver and even the color of the paint," predicts Evans of Cisco. His job is to envision technologies 20 to 50 years in the future, so don't look for these options in 2012 models.