SAN FRANCISCO — The next big device is going to be the center console of your car, according to Inrix GM Kevin Foreman.
Talking at the Inman Connect real estate conference, Foreman outlined how the Kirkland-based company is analyzing the GPS signals of 250 million drivers in 40 countries and collecting two billion data points a day to gain insights on traffic patterns and congestion.
One of four cars sold today is connected, and as such Foreman believes that cars with an internet connection will be the first step toward autonomous driving.
“Just think about cruise control,” said Foreman. “You’re already letting the 6,000 pound metal object run down the highway that you’re not in control of with your gas pedal.”
At the same time, Foreman said that traffic helicopters and traffic counting devices will be relegated to the annals of history. People care about traffic in front of them, not around them, and personalized traffic forecasts are far more effective. Governments won’t have to count traffic since they can license that data.
He also provided examples of where the connected car is headed in the near future. A combination of data from a connected car — like GPS, anti-lock brakes and windshield wiper status — can be combined to alert a driver behind them that the car just hit a patch of black ice.
Retailers and advertisers are also going to benefit from automotive big data. Billboard advertisers can finally get accurate traffic counts of who viewed their billboards. Retailers can get precise metrics of cars entering their parking lots and match it up to special promotions and advertising campaigns that they are running.
“There is a race, just like there was a race for iPhones, iPads and Androids,” he said. “There is a race for the center stack inside of cars. Over the years to come, watch this space. It’s going to the the next big device.”
Previously on GeekWire: Most consumers are worried their cars could be hacked; many would pay for automotive anti-virus
