Our world is continuously changing, with technology the main culprit, albeit often for the better.The way we communicate, our exercise routines, and our entertainment platforms have all improved. One industry which is hugely benefitting from technological advances is the automotive sector. Car manufacturers are constantly trying to stay up to date with new innovations. At the rate that smart technology is advancing, companies have to work hard to avoid being left behind. We’ve already seen huge advancements such as in-car Bluetooth systems, dash-cams, and key finders. But what’s next for the world of automotive tech? The smart technology predictions over the next few years are set to totally revolutionise the way people drive. These new ideas will focus on safer driving, easier driving, and adding more fun enhancements to your driving experience.

Dashboard displays

Soon, the days of dashboards will have completely changed. Augmented reality dashboards are going to help us get all the information we need in order to enhance our driving experience. Giving your dashboard a video-game aesthetic, AR displays will show any information you need to know about the car itself. They will also give you other vital information about the road, such as how quickly you’re approaching another car, and how best to avoid collisions.

Sync our cars and gadgets

Gadgets and phone apps will continue to change our driving experience. Recent innovations have seen car manufacturers such as Hyundai, pair up with the Android Wear app which allows users to complete a number of commands from your smart watch. From your watch you can start your engine remotely, lock your car’s doors, sound your horn, and turn the headlights on and off.

Furthermore, built-in integration with apps is expected to become more and more common within newer car models. Many models now integrate popular apps into the infotainment system, making it look just like the usual screen on your phone.

Autonomous vehicles

Not long ago, dreaming of self-driving cars would be just that — a dream.The idea once seemed futuristic and farfetched, but the tech is now being developed and tested by leading automotive companies such as Audi. Similar to the idea behind inter-car communication, self-driving cars are set to reduce the risk of human error on the road. The result? A safer and more reliable way to travel.

Waymo, the rebrand of the Google Self-Driving Car project which started in 2009, allows you to order on an app and a self-driving car will pick you up and take you where you need to be — a journey which promises to be both extremely safe and very comfortable. The idea behind Waymo is that you can ‘ride with confidence’ and these vehicles have been branded as ‘the most experienced drivers’.

While it may seem like a leap of faith to embrace in self-driving cars this tech seems likely to be much more commonplace in the near future. At this rate, we’ll have access to self-driving cars in our local SEAT dealer sooner than we could have imagined.

Gesture-tech

Who’d have thought a simple wave of the hand would be able to control your vehicle’s functions? As well as being futuristic and fun, this tech is set to make driving easier and safer. Instead of jabbing at buttons on the radio, or being tempted to reach out for your phone, you will soon be able to point at the screen of your infotainment system to accept an incoming call — a simple solution that means you’ll never have to take your eyes off the road.

Car-to-car communication

The motoring world already has an influx of cars that are Internet enabled.Soon, however, these internet-enabled cars will have the ability to communicate with one another, transforming our driving experience. Communication between cars will help prevent collisions, with precision that human error has never before allowed us to achieve. Before a collision can occur, the car-to-car communication system will foresee the accident and alert the driver to the potential consequences. They will then be able to react quickly and avoid catastrophe.

This year will no doubt provide us with many more innovative smart technologies able to enhance user experience in our vehiclesand improve safety. Watch this space!