When the auto companies began competing
with each other to sell cars by offering the best computer user
interface, I predicted that within ten years, they would give up and
offer a standard connection that car buyers could use with their own
IOS and Android (etc.) devices. Some of the auto companies have made
a great step in that direction already. They are trying to
standardize a programming interface for a version of Linux to be used
in all cars.
The software that automakers write for
cars must be hugely expensive. Among other things, every version of
their software has to be tested and tested, to avoid bugs that will
crash a car or cause major, public, black eyes. You can divide the
cost of development by the large number of vehicles sold,
but you will still have a painfully large number that drives up the
retail price.
Now here’s a new prediction, unless
GPS manufacturers have already gotten on top of this one: When I
check the distance to a “favorite” location that I have stored in
my GPS, the device shows me the distance to that location as the crow
flies. (Let us assume straight-aiming crows.)
I travel often from my home to some of
my “favorite” locations. The GPS could easily remember my ACTUAL
driving mileage, and show it to me as my “last time” mileage when
I select a favorite. I’m sure that GPS devices will add this
feature; it’s too useful, and pretty easy to add.
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