Garmin® Next-Generation Infotainment System Turns Car Dashboard Into Digital Cockpit

We've discussed new technology from our automotive OEM group here on our blog before, including the innovative multi-sensor controller concept. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas we're taking it a step further by unveiling K2, our next-generation automotive infotainment
solution. Inspired by
Garmin’s avionics and marine technology, K2 turns the car dashboard into a
digital cockpit that provides drivers a safe and intuitive way to stay
connected and access all the functions they need while on the road. The system
intelligently combines digital displays, voice control, infrared buttons and
smartphone integration to provide drivers access to everything from navigation
to vehicle diagnostics, office features, communications, music and radio to
real-time information from the Web.

The innovative
K2 platform has been designed and developed by Garmin’s automotive OEM group
and is a fully customizable and scalable solution to meet the diverse needs of
any car manufacturer.

“Our
K2 infotainment platform provides drivers an elegant glass cockpit that
functions as their digital hub. It allows them to control driving-related
functions as well as aspects of their digital life in an intuitive and seamless
way that minimizes driver distraction,” said Matt Munn, Garmin managing
director automotive OEM. “Garmin’s experience in user interface design and
hardware integration was paramount when developing K2. We already provide
fully-integrated digital cockpits for aviation and marine OEMs, so providing a
similar level of safety and integration for cars is a logical next step for us.”

Key features of Garmin’s K2 infotainment
platform include:

Glass Cockpit with Advanced Voice Control

Garmin
K2 features a 10-inch glove-friendly multi-touch screen at the center of the
dash and a digital and reconfigurable 12- inch instrument panel behind the
steering wheel. In addition to the standard gauges, the instrument panel
provides the driver notifications and snapshots of information, such as
navigation, communications, audio and vehicle information. This allows drivers to
access crucial information at a glance while keeping their eyes on the road. If
the driver sees an incoming text message or email, for example, he can ask the
system to read the message and respond via voice. Garmin’s advanced voice
controls allow the user to interact with K2 using natural and conversational
language to get weather or traffic information, check their calendar or search
for addresses or points of interest. Crucial functions can also be accessed
using configurable infrared buttons that automatically detect an approaching
hand.

3D Navigation and Location Services

The driving experience itself is
defined by mobility, so navigation, maps and location services are at the
center of Garmin’s K2 infotainment platform. The system features onboard 3D
navigation with city models that show realistic and beautifully rendered 3D
representations of buildings for better orientation. The system is capable of integrating
real-time information, such as fuel prices, parking, traffic, tracking, weather
forecasts and images from traffic cameras. It warns users when they’re running
low on gas and automatically finds gas stations on the driver’s route. Users
can also create to do or reminder lists and the system can remind them at the
right time based on location. For example, if the driver has a list of things
to pick up at a home improvement store, it could remind him of that next time he
is in the area. To even further take some of the cognitive load off the driver,
Garmin is developing additional features that automatically draw conclusions
from accessible information. Through the combination of calendar and navigation
functions, for example, the system would know if the driver is running late due
to traffic, so it could automatically ask if the driver wants to contact the
parties of upcoming meetings and inform them about the delay.

Smartphone Integration and Web
Portal

Garmin
K2 integrates important smartphone functionalities through a bridge app that
connects the smartphone to the dashboard system via Bluetooth® technology. Through this app, the system has access to
the user’s email, calendar, text messages and other features and can present
this information on a customized interface and in a driver-friendly way. The
bridge app can also be used to integrate any type of information or
functionalities from third-party apps that the user already uses on his
smartphone, such as radio, music or other content. Instead of simply mirroring
smartphone apps onto the in-dash display, Garmin’s system allows for the
development of customized interfaces and integration into the system to provide
a seamless and safe experience.

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