HARMAN, the premium global audio and infotainment group, is
demonstrating its scalable platform solution, leveraging the Android for
Automotive operating system, that meets the needs of today’s
smartphone-oriented generation by safely bringing car-centric apps and
services into the car.
“The automotive industry can no longer innovate at its current pace, and
HARMAN is helping OEMs create more flexible, scalable solutions that
deliver leading connected solutions for tomorrow, today,” said Dinesh
Paliwal, HARMAN’s Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer.
“This starts by creating an automotive-grade, intuitive user interface
in the car that also delivers the connected experience consumers are
accustomed to on their mobile devices.”
The HARMAN app-centric infotainment concept platform shepherds a new era
for in-car experiences that more effectively connects drivers to their
digital worlds – the home, the office, friends and the cloud – in ways
that are easy, fun, personalized and intuitive.
Key features in the new infotainment system include:
Car-Centric Applications and Services
HARMAN’s new infotainment system is designed for safe use in the car
with one-touch access to the features drivers value and expect in
today’s system – media, navigation, telephony, applications, and other
settings. By placing these tabs at the bottom of every screen, drivers
can easily and quickly find what they need while staying alert and
keeping their attention focused on the road.
HARMAN is further minimizing distractions on the road by integrating
sensitive icons in its new infotainment system that “grow” in size as a
driver’s finger approaches the system touch screen. This ensures that
the touch targets are big enough for users to find quickly the first
time.
A new HARMAN curated applications store makes it easy and safe for
drivers to enjoy the latest applications in the car. Using the new
platform, consumers can discover and download versions of applications
from streaming radio, audio book services, or the latest social media
feeds that are developed or adapted specifically for the automotive
environment. Because of the flexible design, the infotainment system is
“future-proof,” meaning it can add or remove apps easily as new
applications are invented or made available.
Using the new infotainment system, consumers have added flexibility to
bring their content into the car with them. HARMAN makes it easy for
drivers to access content on their iPods, smartphones and iPads by
providing wired and wireless interfaces that are optimized for the
driving environment. This includes media and applications that are
running on consumer mobile devices, as well as those connecting via
cloud-based services like Siri and Google Voice Search.
Intuitive and Customizable Interfaces
To make the infotainment experience their own, drivers can select which
applications correspond with specific tabs. For example, some drivers
may prefer having the on-board navigation application launch when they
press the Navigation button. Others may want Google Maps to launch when
they press the Navigation button. HARMAN has also provided drivers a
central place to access all of the features that they interact with the
most. These applications and services can be saved in a Favorites tab
using one-touch access.
HARMAN’s new infotainment system also delivers other key pieces of
information that are useful to drivers. HARMAN is collaborating with
companies such as iOnRoad to help drivers increase visibility and
awareness of their driving environment. Warnings to alert drivers as
they approach another car or if they unintentionally change lanes help
keep everyone on the road safe. HARMAN is working with other solutions
providers to continue evolving 360 degree views of the vehicle to assist
with parking, provide rear camera views and warnings, and other
applications.
In the future, the HARMAN system will be able to “learn” what the driver
interacts with the most, and automatically add these choices to the
Favorites screen – minimizing the need for the driver to do this
manually. In addition, future systems will have the ability to store
multiple profiles, so that each driver can enjoy a personalized
infotainment experience adapted to their preferences. This includes
unique Favorites screens, as well as personalized music preferences,
calendars and seat positions.
Security is Paramount
To protect the vehicle bus and other critical features, HARMAN has
created a virtualized platform where the core and car-centric
applications and services run on the proven QNX operating system, and
the User Interface and downloaded applications run in the Android for
Automotive environment. By taking this approach, HARMAN’s platform uses
the best of both worlds – the proven performance and stability of QNX
and the flexibility and extensibility of Android for Automotive.
HARMAN at CES 2013
Visit HARMAN during CES 2013 for more details on HARMAN’s scalable
infotainment platform, and to see the company’s full portfolio of
infotainment and lifestyle audio systems. HARMAN is located in the
Central Hall, Booth 10431, in the Las Vegas Convention Center, January
8-11, 2013. Follow HARMAN online during CES 2013:
About HARMAN
HARMAN (www.harman.com)
designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment
solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets –
supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman
Kardon, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The company is
admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading
professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than
25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio
and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,900 people
across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $4.4 billion
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012. The Company’s shares are traded
on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.
HAR-C
© 2013 HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated. All rights
reserved. Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson are
trademarks of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, registered
in the United States and/or other countries. AKG is a trademark of AKG
Acoustics GmbH, registered in the United States and/or other countries.
Features, specifications and appearance are subject to change without
notice.
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