It feels almost like ages ago when GPS was something a regular person wouldn’t be able to use. But the meteoric rise of smartphones and tablets have put this technology that was once limited only to vehicles into everyone’s hands. Now, German luxury automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz is aiming to integrate this now popular feature to create a better GPS experience both inside and outside a vehicle using Google Glass.
Imagine setting a destination while at home, driving with the car and then getting off and walking for the final leg of the trip. With current navigation systems, one has to input directions on different devices or manually change from driving to walking directions. Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America (MBRDNA) President and CEO Johann Jungwirth wants to utilize Google Glass to create a seamless transition between these states. Input directions only once and let the software automatically change from driving to walking directions or vice versa.
Infotainment is another area that MBRDNA is working on, like the company’s Drive Kit Plus, a smartphone plug-in accessory that utilizes the smartphone and online services such as Google to provide GPS information, multimedia, and social networking. At the moment, only the iPhone is supported but an Android version said to be in the works.
There will be a hefty price to pay for these fancy augmentations to your driving experience. The Glass itself is already pricey, but the Drive Kit Plus will also cost you an additional $600. There is no need to rush, though, as the Glass-powered navigation system isn’t likely to be seen in the market any time soon, considering Glass isn’t yet easily available for a majority of consumers.
VIA: Business Journal
