Volvo owners will be able to talk to their car via their Microsoft Band 2 as the two companies launch a wearable-enabled voice control system.
The new system will allow Volvo owners to instruct their vehicle to perform tasks including, setting the navigation, starting the heater, locking the doors, flashing the lights or sounding the horn via Volvo’s mobile app Volvo on Call and the connected wearable device.
Launched in 2001, Volvo on Call became one of first ever car-based telematics systems in the world. The new facility will be available for customers in Volvo on Call enabled markets in spring 2016.
The launch follows a high profile collaboration between the companies in November last year and the service is the first automotive application of HoloLens technology.
HoloLens is the world’s first fully untethered holographic computer, which could be used in future to redefine how customers first encounter, explore and even buy car.
“Volvo is intent on making the car experience as easy and convenient as possible by utilising the latest technology in the most relevant and inspiring ways. With voice control we are only just beginning to scratch the surface of what is possible with digital assistant functionalities,” said Thomas Müller, Vice President Electrics/ Electronics & E-Propulsion at Volvo Car Group.
Also on Tuesday, Nissan Motor and Microsoft Corp announced that all Nissan LEAF models and Infiniti models in Europe will have Connect Telematics Systems (CTS) powered by Microsoft Azure.
Since the Nissan LEAF’s launch in 2010, more than 200,000 have been sold worldwide. Nissan selected Azure to meet customers’ expectations about in-vehicle mobility solutions, create additional ways to interact with their vehicles, and enhance safety.
Elsewhere, Ford and drone-maker DJI announced that they are driving innovation in smart drone-to-vehicle software with DJI Developer Challenge.
In connection with that, Ford invited innovators to participate in the DJI Developer Challenge to create drone-to-vehicle communications using Ford SYNCAppLink or OpenXC.
Arya MM