BMW ConnectedDrive is known for cutting-edge in-car concepts and technologies that enhance the driving experience. New functions and displays mark another milestone in the development of the system.
The next generation of the BMW Navigation system receives several enhancements, featuring a design rendered entirely in 3D, a modified display and updated control concept as well as a host of extra Navigation, Office and Multimedia functions.
For the first time, the driver is able to compose short texts for emails and SMS messages while driving by simply dictating them. Meanwhile, the function for recording voice memos then sending them by email ensures that any flashes of inspiration at the wheel can be instantly preserved.
Following the addition of a multi-touch touchpad, not only does the iDrive Touch Controller allow characters to be entered with the touch of a finger, it lets drivers navigate in maps, including zooming in and out. The BMW LTE Car Hotspot ushers in the next generation of mobile internet, making BMW the first car manufacturer to bring high-speed mobile internet into the car.
Automakers have been producing media connectivity systems with apps, but BMW takes it one step further by providing a Software Development Kit (SDK) to make the integration of third-party apps into the vehicle’s on-board control and display logic easier, expanding the possibilities for a more pleasant and safe user experience.
The new-generation BMW Navigation system takes the display and control into the third dimension. In 1994, BMW became the first carmaker to offer a built-in navigation system in the BMW 7 Series. That first system arrived in the US in 1997. The new-generation BMW Navigation system boasts a new design and an optimized control concept. This new system will appear in the US this fall in 2013 BMW 5 Series, 5 Series Gran Turismo and 7 Series models as well as the new BMW ActiveHybrid 3. Other models will follow.
For the first time, the individual menus are structured entirely in virtual, three-dimensional spaces, and calculations are performed in real time. In addition to easier scrolling and browsing, the high-performance system – featuring a 1.3 GHz processor and dedicated 3D graphics chip – offers top-quality animations and dynamic transitions to improve the whole operating experience.
The previous system’s proven menu navigation has been retained, while new functions have been added to enhance the system’s capabilities and enrich the customer experience. For instance, a new spatial dimension has been added to the way in which the menu levels are displayed: when sub-menus are selected, they appear dynamically from the right, while the corresponding top menus fade into the background on the left, where they are still visible. The tactile feedback for the user is accompanied by a direct visual confirmation of their interaction with the vehicle, which allows them to clearly see their current position within the menu structure on the display.
Besides the new menu display, the route guidance graphics and the map views within the navigation function have also been modified and improved by the addition of various interactive options. The split-screen portion of the central information display, for example, now includes new display functions for the navigation mode. While the driver still enters the destination by selecting the country, city and street, the chosen destination simultaneously appears in the map view on the split screen for easier orientation. If necessary, the driver can use a zoom function to change the section of map shown and check that the selected destination is the intended one.
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