By Bhavna Bhatia

Did you know that 40 million new people are licensed to drive every year? Or that over 500,000 people are killed in car crashes every year? The numbers are scary, but the automotive industry is working hard to drive change!

During the CES SuperSession “Connect2Car: The Automobile’s Convergence with Consumer Electronics” yesterday, top industry executives and experts from Continental, Microsoft, Nokia, and others discussed their efforts to increase efficiency and effectiveness of in-vehicle technologies.

Panelists say that consumers want the luxury of in-vehicle technologies at hand while being able to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel [which we don’t do enough!] The idea is to minimize driving distractions by letting technology do the work for you!

One of the solutions presented by Kieran O Sullivan of Continental Corporation is a wireless technology that can predict road conditions ahead including red lights, icy roads, or detours. The technology will notify your vehicle and the vehicles around you, reducing surprises and increasing focus on the road.

Driving safety was only one of the hot topics discussed at the session. The panelists recognize that the industry is facing tough economic conditions, but are optimistic that it is an opportunity to implement change: “The opportunities are as big as the challenges that the industry faces,” said SEMA moderator John Waraniak. “CES is the perfect place to pursue these opportunities.”

There are so many in-vehicle technologies that we take for granted, buttons we don’t think twice about including our hazard lights, radio, power windows, and much more. These have become sort of an expectation when purchasing a car. Panelists foreshadowed the addition of more efficient HMI, telematics, and eco-friendly technologies to the standard features of a vehicle.

Clearly, the automotive industry is working hard to increase consumer satisfaction. I don’t know about you, but I feel a little more comfortable the road just knowing that such knowledgeable experts are working to make my traveling experience safer and effortless.

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This entry was posted on Friday, January 9th, 2009 at 12:05 pm and is filed under CES, In Vehicle Electronics. Reply to this post, or trackback from your own site. Follow responses to this entry through the comments RSS feed.