As we transition towards Internet of Things (IoT) - humans are connected to each other & outside world through the smartphone.
Customers tend to use smartphones for varied purposes ranging from communication to entertainment. However, the concern of distraction exists due to poor visibility & accessibility of the phone’s screen in driving condition.
One of the repercussion of being connected to smartphone particularly in driving condition includes higher number of road accidents due to distraction. This paper explains one of the key initiatives taken by Maruti Suzuki India Limited to address the same. This is done by offering an entry level connected infotainment system which comprises of the following three components:
(a) An entry-level infotainment with basic display & vehicle connectivity, (b) A Dock mounted on infotainment panel enabling safe usage of smartphone due to its position i.e. accessibly and visibility in driving condition, (c) A Driving App specifically designed for driving usage where one can access calling, messaging, navigation on the go with a vibrant UI & easy to use gestures.
The infotainment unit is connected to vehicle’s network which acts as a gateway to provide information related to fuel, vehicle health, and safety alerts, etc. Connectivity with smartphone through a custom Bluetooth protocol enables 2-way control of audio functions and data exchange between vehicle and cloud.
The framework of vehicle & smartphone connectivity provides a platform to utilize the capabilities of the smartphone (display, computation power, storage, sensors & internet connectivity) with the possibility of scaling up to functionalities such as telematics, vehicle analytics, etc.
This paper encapsulates the thinking behind the design of SmartPlay Dock to give the customer a connected & safe experience.