Connected objects in the home and beyond are distinguished by their ability to be remotely monitored and controlled. The expectation of a frictionless and near invisible user experience in the future will require devices that can operate independently of the user.

Automaker investment and engagement with so-called “new mobility” services is on the rise, as more organisations view the endeavors as data-gathering exercises for a possible future without car ownership. However, the user experience (UX) of these new services is often an afterthought, particularly for car-sharing services.

The continual expansion of display real estate, faster data speeds, specialised data plans and improved video displays, presents a real opportunity for live TV streaming services like Sling TV to be marketed as mobile.

Over the past few model years, smartphone mirroring features from Alphabet (Android Auto) and Apple (CarPlay) have become far more widespread across model lines. With this exposure has come a surge of consumer interest and concern over how well these features are being integrated with on-board systems.

Automakers have a long history of attempting to monetise the on-board infotainment system, via upsells for features such as map updates, on-board internet or connected apps. Last December, GM announced a new and more novel venture called Marketplace, an on-board commerce platform which lets a user conduct a wide array of commerce-related interactions in their car.

Pure electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity in some markets, but also present challenges for engineers and designers. Cluster and cockpit HMI, mobile app interfaces, and charging station interfaces must be designed with the specific needs of EV users in mind.

A new expert evaluation from the In-vehicle UX (IVX) group at Strategy Analytics “User Experience Evaluation: Tesla Model 3”, has found that The Tesla Model 3 is designed for a self-driving future which has yet to arrive. While simplicity in UI design remains apparent,

Intelligent voice assistants dominated CES 2018: mobile-developed features from Amazon and Google appear to be winning out for almost all use cases in future cockpit concepts. The ability to leverage consumer familiarity and build a seamless connected experience has led to direct and immediate implications for all automotive voice control suppliers.

Bezel-less and edge-to-edge designs are rapidly becoming the norm, allowing OEMs to squeeze larger displays into a more compact form factor. However, optimising one-handed usability and adding value through smart implementations of edge interactions is becoming critical.

While robotics is still a long way off and VR is still in its infancy for consumers, the way in which we communicate with smart devices and applications will change much sooner than we thought. Voice will dominate how we communicate with more and more devices; chatbots will also do the same but with a more discrete approach, often being used where voice may not be appropriate.