Alcatel-Lucent, Toyota Drive LTE Connected Car into Concept Spotlight
by Nicholas Kolakowski
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The LTE Connected Car attempts to turn a vehicle into a smartphone on wheels, combining navigation, entertainment and communication technology in a single platform.
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Alcatel-Lucent merged an LTE broadband radio link with an in-car Wi-Fi environment, giving drivers and passengers access to a full range of multimedia applications. Each of the vehicle’s four touch screens can independently display different types of content.
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Through the cloud, passengers can access not only music, but also video and online games.
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Thanks to the always-on connectivity, the driver can constantly receive real-time traffic, weather and road condition alerts.
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The concept car allows users to watch YouTube videos. When the car is in Drive mode, however, the driver can only use his or her display to access driving-related applications such as navigation.
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The screens offer a very visual way to control speakers throughout the car.
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In addition to being able to control multimedia functions, the driver can use the screen to adjust environmental aspects such as temperature.
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Besides maps, the concept car offers real-time GPS updates with point-of-interest overlays, allowing drivers to find restaurants and other needed locations within their immediate area.
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Alcatel-Lucent brought together a diverse ecosystem of partners, including Atlantic Records, QNX Software Systems and Toyota, to create the concept vehicle.
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The car’s technology takes advantage of pre-existing sensors to continually monitor things such as tire pressure, allowing drivers to anticipate problems (and earn a little peace of mind).
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The concept car will remind drivers when they need to take the vehicle in for maintenance.
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Drivers and passengers can make calls through the car’s integrated systems, as well as sign into their social networks and send text messages.
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The car can be linked to home automation or security systems, letting driver or passengers adjust home climate control and lighting or even view streaming video feeds from security cameras.
