Chips with everything

摘要

People have become so used to carrying smartphones with all of their inbuilt functionality around in their pockets that until recently stepping inside a vehicle was, for some, like going back to the dark ages. It was difficult for consumers to understand why they could access the internet, stream music and enjoy countless apps on a handheld device yet when they got into a vehicle they could only use embedded systems such as radio or CD or perhaps plug an MP3 player in via a USB cable. But OEMs are adapting, and the influence of consumer electronics on the automotive industry is growing apace. Infotainment systems have started to incorporate a more diverse range of functionality, displayed with better clarity on larger screens, using more powerful processor technology to render graphics and run complex software. And, with high-speed data connections, they use an increasing amount of information from external sources.