Self-driving cars are the next big thing in car technology, but what will we do with all that free time that we would have spent driving? Volvo thinks we'll be streaming video on Netflix.
Volvo recently introduced Concept 26, the company's vision for self-driving cars and what that would mean for the driver. As part of the vision, users will enjoy "Relax Mode," which will essentially allow users to watch and enjoy video material while the car performs the actual driving.
"Imagine a highway full of autonomous cars with their occupants sitting back watching their favorite TV shows in high definition," says Anders Tylman, the general manager of Volvo's Monitoring and Concept Center. "This new way of commuting will demand new technology and a much broader bandwidth to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience."
Volvo suggests that as much as 70 percent of all traffic from wireless data will occur in the form of video in the next few years, and the autonomous car movement will accelerate the demand for video content.
In fact, Volvo even hopes to offer content when the user is offline, learning the car's most commonly-traveled routes and times of travel and getting to know users' media preferences. This will enable the car to download content when it is appropriate, ensuring that if the driver hits a patch of no reception, they will still be able to enjoy their TV show or movie.
The idea is certainly interesting and isn't so far-fetched. While initially, drivers will be required to monitor the driving of their car, eventually, they will be able to take their eyes off the road and do other things. That means things like in-car TVs, computers, gaming consoles and so on.
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Via: The Verge
