Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Qualcomm Introduces Its App Platform For Cars


Signaling the industry is moving toward your car being even more of a computing system, Qualcomm announced on Monday they've developed an automobile-friendly version of Snapdragon, their smartphone platform.  Talk about cornering the market, listen to what this processor can do:

"With all the built-in capabilities and superior low power/high performance of the Snapdragon 602A processor, sophisticated next-generation connected automotive infotainment systems are made possible. Multiple OS support, complex user applications, enhanced 3D navigation, high-resolution, sophisticated graphics and HMIs, facial recognition, gesture recognition, and rear seat 3D gaming are possible with the Krait CPU and Adreno GPU. Natural voice recognition, high-quality audio processing, codecs, image stitching, and third party provided DSP algorithms are enabled by the on-chip Hexagon DSP. Additionally, multiple HD displays and cameras with hardware accelerated, simultaneous decode and encode are supported by the Snapdragon 602A processor’s internal video and camera processing engines."   
                         - Qualcomm Press Release, Mon, Jan. 6, 2014

For those keeping score at home: an app system, 3D mapping, video games, and censor security systems using GESTURES.  What if you didn't have to touch your console screen to change the radio, only make a sweeping gesture? (Of course we Italians gesticulate so much we'd be accidentally switching stations all day).

Qualcomm may be rushing tech that current automobile systems aren't yet ready for because they have to be innovative as their monopoly-like hold on the market in China is in danger.  No matter, though, as Qualcomm going all-in on this technology all but guarantees software giants like Google, Apple, Samsung, MediaTek, etc. continue to develop products that pair with new automobile designs.  It also means that app-based software is, for now, the framework auto makers are going to design your car's onboard system around; not exactly the most efficient system for driving, considering how distracting it can be.

Of course, the display design for how the driver interacts with said online system is most likely going to change in the near future as well.  Your dashboard screen could wind up on your windshield, or your navigation systems could take over your driving while in heavy traffic.  The entire driving experience is up for grabs, and Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon processor is just the tip of the iceberg.

Donal Thoms-Cappello is a freelance writer for Rotor Clip Company.

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