Remember when phones were primarily devices used for phone conversations? It seems quaint, now that smartphones have evolved to become mobile information hubs for our needs on the go. Voice calling is so 2000.
Remember when we used to think of automobiles primarily as transportation devices to get us from point A to B? Oh, wait. That’s how most of us still think of cars. But not for long.
The transformation has begun and in a few years, the idea that a car’s sole purpose is transportation — will also seem quaint.
Consider the following: The kids are off at summer camp, so you and the spouse decide to reignite your youthful spontaneity by taking a road trip through the mountains to Napa. To liven up the ride, you sign onto your car’s portal, and upgrade the 190 horsepower engine of your family sedan, a workhorse used primarily to get the kids to and from school, transforming it into a 350 stallion joyride for the weekend. You upgrade your Bose speakers to “earbleed” mode, and send your Pandora Springsteen playlist to your iCar to stream while you drive.
Your connected navigation system maneuvers you out of town avoiding the traffic and road crews. It unexpectedly guides you through the less-travelled toll roads. But no worries, your car knows your toll account is empty and uses your credit card to replenish your iPass account on the go.
You have a hankering to dine at a new farm-to-table restaurant in Napa you heard about. And with a voice command your iCar reads you the Yelp reviews, pulls it up on Open Table, estimates your time of arrival, and makes the reservation for you.
You rock out to the Boss until your car warns you to slow down, as you’re approaching a little too quickly into that speed trap that is Napa. Your trusty road-servant directs you with precision to an available parking spot right by the restaurant. You have arrived.
This story illustrates how the automobile didn’t just get you from point A to B – it performed myriad services aligned to your weekend getaway needs. It let you muscle up the engine, enjoy your playlist, maneuver to your destination using the most efficient route, and it facilitated your dinner plans.
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