Amazon Is About Make BMW A Whole Lot Easier To Live With

Thanks to some intelligent Alexa voice commands.

Amazon has done a lot to make our lives easier. It's hard to even remember life without free two-day shipping. The tech giant has recently expressed interest in improving the car buying process, but will start off in the auto industry by fixing one of the most annoying features on modern cars: voice control. Amazon announced a partnership to include its Alexa voice command on BMW models. This was an exciting announcement, because in-car voice commands have been one of the most infuriating things about modern car infotainment.

An app called BMW Connected Skill has been available for Amazon Echo, which allows users to ask about vehicle information such as fuel level or charge. Now we can get a better idea of how Alexa will work in the actual car.

In the video, we see a driver sliding an M4 around an aircraft carrier that has been turned into a race track (which is obviously something that most people do). The driver is able to ask Alexa to set a timer for 30 seconds, turn on his favorite song, tell him the current weather, order a pizza and even open a garage door all while keeping his hands on the wheel. The system will utilize a built-in SIM card, so it won't rely on a smartphone. This feature will also be available on Mini models, but there is no word on whether Rolls-Royce owners should expect to get this helpful feature. Expect to see Alexa in all BMW vehicles starting mid-2018 in the US, UK and Germany.

Amazon makes it easier for automakers to use Alexa inside vehicles

The kit includes source code and function libraries that enable a vehicle to process audio input and triggers and handle interactions with Alexa.

Amazon Alexa typically is used in the home for basic tasks such as setting reminders or playing music. But now, Amazon is making it easier to incorporate Alexa into a vehicle.

The e-commerce giant has released the Alexa Auto Software Development Kit, which provides developers a way to integrate all of Alexa's core functions into in-vehicle infotainment systems, Amazon announced Thursday.

Alexa, the cloud-based virtual assistant developed by Amazon in 2014, traditionally powers devices including Amazon Echo, Echo Show, Echo Dot and more. Over time, the service has expanded from voice interaction to providing real-time information, serving as a home automation system and provide other services.

The kit includes source code and function libraries that enable a vehicle to process audio input and triggers and handle interactions with Alexa. It also provides the hooks required to connect to a wake word engine, local media player, local phone and local navigation system, the company said in a release.

The development kit's primary capabilities include: instructing the native calling service in the vehicle to place calls, enabling customers to stream audio and display media info to the head unit, setting the destination of the native turn-by-turn navigation system and searching for businesses and locations.

Along with hosting auto-specific features, the kit will include basic Alexa functionality such as providing smart home controls and weather reports, setting other custom skills and enabling notifications, the company said.

Automakers including BMW, Ford Motor Co., Volkswagen's Seat brand and Toyota Motor Corp. already have begun working to integrate Alexa into their vehicles. Developers including Anker and Garmin have built aftermarket devices that bring Alexa into additional models. The kit -- available on GitHub under the Apache License, Version 2.0 -- will allow other automakers and suppliers to do the same.

The development by Amazon is another example of tech companies entering the auto space, particularly with infotainment systems. A study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety this year found Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were considered less distracting than several vehicles' built-in infotainment systems. It was based on how much visual and mental demand was placed on drivers for tasks including selecting or programming audio entertainment, calling and dialing, text messaging and programming navigation. It found many automakers' in-vehicle systems create high demand associated with completing these tasks compared with those created by tech companies.

View the original article here

Amazon makes it easier for automakers to use Alexa inside vehicles

The kit includes source code and function libraries that enable a vehicle to process audio input and triggers and handle interactions with Alexa.

Amazon Alexa typically is used in the home for basic tasks such as setting reminders or playing music. But now, Amazon is making it easier to incorporate Alexa into a vehicle.

The e-commerce giant has released the Alexa Auto Software Development Kit, which provides developers a way to integrate all of Alexa's core functions into in-vehicle infotainment systems, Amazon announced Thursday.

Alexa, the cloud-based virtual assistant developed by Amazon in 2014, traditionally powers devices including Amazon Echo, Echo Show, Echo Dot and more. Over time, the service has expanded from voice interaction to providing real-time information, serving as a home automation system and provide other services.

The kit includes source code and function libraries that enable a vehicle to process audio input and triggers and handle interactions with Alexa. It also provides the hooks required to connect to a wake word engine, local media player, local phone and local navigation system, the company said in a release.

The development kit's primary capabilities include: instructing the native calling service in the vehicle to place calls, enabling customers to stream audio and display media info to the head unit, setting the destination of the native turn-by-turn navigation system and searching for businesses and locations.

Along with hosting auto-specific features, the kit will include basic Alexa functionality such as providing smart home controls and weather reports, setting other custom skills and enabling notifications, the company said.

Automakers including BMW, Ford Motor Co., Volkswagen's Seat brand and Toyota Motor Corp. already have begun working to integrate Alexa into their vehicles. Developers including Anker and Garmin have built aftermarket devices that bring Alexa into additional models. The kit -- available on GitHub under the Apache License, Version 2.0 -- will allow other automakers and suppliers to do the same.

The development by Amazon is another example of tech companies entering the auto space, particularly with infotainment systems. A study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety this year found Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were considered less distracting than several vehicles' built-in infotainment systems. It was based on how much visual and mental demand was placed on drivers for tasks including selecting or programming audio entertainment, calling and dialing, text messaging and programming navigation. It found many automakers' in-vehicle systems create high demand associated with completing these tasks compared with those created by tech companies.

View the original article here