Very soon, the autonomous cars can be transformed at will into meeting room or in a coworkingThis is the first time that a business centre has been able to offer such a high level of service, with seats facing each other and glass surfaces for projecting presentations and video conferences. Back in 2014, the business centre specialist Regus envisaged this future by presenting the concept car XchangEThe front seats could swivel back to create a work and meeting space for four people. "We've given particular thought to sales people or consultants who are often on the move and waste a lot of time during their journeys."said Andre Sharpe, Global Director of Product Development at Regus.
The next decade should see the advent of autonomous vehicles, but in the meantime, cars still have to be driven... no matter how connected and full of screens they may be. Although they still require the driver's attention, these real high-tech objects are heralding the mobile offices of the future, and are already transforming travel time into working time, thanks to their advanced technology. Indeed, withinfotainment integrated into the car, there's nothing to stop you making phone calls, interacting on social networks or keeping up to date without ever having to pick up your smartphone. Provided, of course, that you respect the framework of the highway code... and that of reason.
On the other hand, increasingly effective driving aids provide effective support for drivers, in particular adaptive cruise control, which automatically brakes in traffic jams when traffic stops and corrects direction when approaching a white line.
So how do you choose the right car for the job? "second office ? We might as well start with the basic criteria, those that should never be overlooked when faced with the temptation to focus on connectivity alone. Because a good car for professional use must first and foremost offer an ideal working environment: it must be comfortable, quiet, sufficiently spacious and equipped with practical storage spaces. It should also have autonomy to avoid frequent trips to the pump or, for electric models, to a recharging point.
The 4G connection for the infotainment system can be integrated into the car or run via the driver's smartphone. This can have an impact on running costs.
Then there are the model's predispositions for a good connectivity the on-board infotainment system. While some brands offer an integrated connection with an on-board SIM card - which is generally the case with French brands and German premium manufacturers, at prices ranging from €130 to €360 over three years after an initial free period - others rely primarily on the customer's smartphone. But beware, the latter case can lead to roaming charges when travelling through countries not covered by the telephone operator's contract, such as Switzerland or Andorra. What's more, a smartphone's aerial is not as powerful as that of a car when it comes to hooking up to the GSM network. Some brands make up for this shortcoming with a dedicated slot for the smartphone, generally called the "smartphone slot". "phone boxwhich connects the device to the on-board antenna to amplify its sound. 4G reception signal We're waiting for 2020 and the arrival of 5G, which will be much faster and more powerful. What's more, these phone boxes are also equipped with a wireless recharging system - based on the QI standard - enabling them to power the battery of a compatible smartphone such as the Apple iPhone X or Samsung S9.
Multiple applications
A high-performance connection is obviously all very well. But it's not enough on its own. Its usefulness lies first and foremost in connecting the on-board infotainment system so that you can benefit from all its functions. For example, so that the navigation system can access traffic information to help you get to an appointment as quickly as possible, as well as parking information so you don't have to waste time parking, fuel prices, points of interest or - and for peace of mind on the road - danger zone warning services such as Coyote.
However, another means of connection provides access to certain useful functions by reproducing the smartphone screen on the vehicle's screen. This is known as mirroringthe services offered by Android Auto, Apple CarPlayor even MirrorLink. Once activated, they enable certain applications - WhatsApp in particular, but also Skype or navigation Waze (Android) - to be displayed in simplified mode on the car's on-board screen. Telephony and messaging functions are also made easier, while the voice control button on the steering wheel can be used for simple things: calling a contact, listening to and replying to text messages read by the system, controlling the music with Google Voice or Apple Siri or access the services of the smartphone's personal assistant, whether Google Assistant or Apple's Siri.
Based on this principle, with its new A-Class, Mercedes has just launched its own voice assistant using artificial intelligence to provide a better response to every request. This service differs from the genuine concierge services set up by manufacturers such as BMW, which has a real person at the end of the phone rather than a robot. Also at Mercedes, the personal assistant service Mercedes meand assistants Amazon Alexa and Google AssistantThese are starting to be incorporated into certain models, starting with the C-Class and GLC in the UK and Germany. The German brand also offers the In-Car Officeusing the calendar to give addresses to the navigation system and automatically connect to a specific destination. conference call by entering an access code. The on-board screen will then display certain information relating to the conference, such as the names of the participants or the organiser. These features are available in France, at a cost of €19 per year or €49 over three years.
From his side, BMW offers, for €80 a year, to connect the car to a Microsoft Office 365 account including the "Exchange Online. The system integrated into the vehicle's terminal synchronises e-mails, contacts and diary entries and allows them to be processed independently, even without a connection to a smartphone. It is also capable of transferring addresses directly into the navigation system and adds a particularly interesting feature for mobile professionals: the ability to take part in conference calls on Skype for Business, which Volvo also offers, with just one click.
The ideal interface
On-board connectivity offers the added advantage of having a on-board Wi-Fi connection point. So, with this hotspot provided by the car and a 220 V socket like some manufacturers (Renault, VW...), you can plug in a computer and connect it to the web during a break on the road.
With the gradual arrival of services such as Skype for Business and Office 365, connectivity is becoming increasingly important for business use on board.
Then there is the human-machine interface. Specialists speak of UI- for "User Interface or "user interface" - one of the crucial points in the development of new models. Indeed, the more complex a machine becomes, the simpler the interaction with the customer needs to be, especially if the customer is behind the wheel and cannot be distracted. The man-machine interface is therefore given the utmost care by carmakers, who have teams in charge of studying the adaptation of each technological development. Just look at the quality of definition of the latest generation of screens, or the progress made in terms of voice recognition to see for yourself.
Today's cars are capable of responding to commands given very naturally by the driver, such as "call the office", "I'm hot" to lower the temperature in the cabin, or "I'm hungry" to find a restaurant... Manufacturers are taking advantage of the advances made by voice recognition specialists, with thousands of recorded voices and the use of artificial intelligence to be able to understand most spoken commands. Some car models even go so far as to use online voice recognition systems to tap into infinitely larger databases and ensure a result of formidable reliability.
However, even the most sophisticated vehicles may need to be complemented by simple, useful equipment. A quality smartphone holder is an essential element in this respect. Especially as there are some that fit discreetly behind the shell of the smartphone and can be combined with a very discreet mini magnetic holder that can be easily fitted to a ventilation grille on the dashboard. Because, just like a desk, a tidy car helps you keep a clear head.
