Increased complexity.That’s the overarching takeaway from the 2024 Embedded World Exhibition & Conference, held April 9-11 in Nuremberg, Germany. Embedded World brings together the global embedded community – last year more than 950 exhibitors and 27,000 visitors participated – and provides a unique view of the latest technologies, trends and challenges impacting this versatile industry. “With the growing prominence of the industrial internet of things (IIoT), we’re no longer talking just about devices, but rather systems of devices,” said Integrated Computer Solutions (ICS) CEO…
To demonstrate its powerful platform at CES 2024, Automotive Grade Linux (AGL) partnered with Integrated Computer Solutions (ICS) to create a new user interface for the AGL in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system demo on a highly accelerated schedule – less than half the time this type of project would typically take.
AGL had an existing, fairly simple, engineer-designed IVI demo created a few years ago that they were looking to elevate in every aspect, from the integrations to the user experience. With a successful track record developing automotive and in-flight IVI systems, ICS was…
Audio systems are essential components of our daily lives, providing access to music, podcasts, and other forms of audio entertainment. These systems can range from simple radios to high-end home theater systems with advanced digital signal processing (DSP) chips.
In this blog post, I explore the various components that make up an audio system, including audio tuners, audio processing and voice playback for directions. I also examine the differences between open-source solutions and closed-source audio drivers/interfaces. And I outline at some common use cases from the automotive industry,…
I was fortunate to get to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this year, and spent a lot of time in the North Hall of the LVCC, which held the latest offerings in transportation — everything from flying cars to super yachts to rideable luggage.
Many of the concept cars lacked what would be considered a traditional car cabin. Instead, the focus seemed to be on ultra-comfortable chairs, sleek interactions and displays on every imaginable cabin surface. Without a steering wheel or pedals, it would be difficult to recognize these as automobiles if I saw them out of context.
I’ve…
Wednesday, February 20, 2019 - 10:57
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By Stephanie Van Ness
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Qt, voice assistant, automotive IVI
Voice has always been recognized as an ideal way for a driver to interact with an auto because it reduces driver distraction. However, the lack of familiarity with most current automotive voice systems, along with their constrained set of commands, has resulted in low use and adoption rates.
Integrated Computer Solutions (ICS) and The Qt Company are working together to change that. Their goal is to foster new breakthroughs in the use of voice in automotive, and support creation of a safer driving environment.
The companies are working together to integrate Amazon Alexa into Qt and take…
I was present at the 2007 MacWorld Expo where the iPhone was announced. Ever the master marketer, Steve Jobs orchestrated a live demo, placing a call to Apple’s VP of Marketing as he was walking down the aisle of the packed auditorium. Afterward, in the large Apple booth on the exhibit floor, there were two suspended models of iPhones rotating in plexiglass cases: you couldn't touch them, you couldn't hold them, you couldn't make calls on them like Steve Jobs had done from the stage. But you could buy one, even though MacWorld was in January and the iPhone didn’t promise to ship until July.…
Media Manager Architecture - From Indexing Media to Playing
In the first two parts of our blog series, we examined some of the functional requirements of our Media Manager. We also showed a solution for indexing of media. In today’s installment, we explain the core architecture of the media manager and how indexed media information can be presented to our end users.
To summarize, we want the Media Manager to have a few important capabilities:
Present media from different sources, e.g., Phones, Tablets, Internet Streaming Source and USB sticks, to the user in a unified way that allows…
Tuesday, April 26, 2016 - 14:33
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By ICS Development Team
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IVI, Open Source, Automotive, Media Manager, development
Today, at the GENIVI AMM in Paris, ICS has released the open source Media Manager software code which I’ve been referring to in my Media Manager blog series.
The code is now available for download at ICS's GitHub repository.
ICS’s press release details more information about our activities at GENIVI AMM in Paris, including our IVI development hands-on workshops and our latest IVI concept available to view Wednesday night at the member showcase and reception.
If you have questions about the Media Manager project or code, please feel free to comment here and I'll get back to you.…
Part 2 Indexing and Tagging Media
This is the second in a series of blog posts about media manager components. In the first blog post we discussed the goals and a general architecture for our media manager. In today’s installation, we will show how to address some of the challenges when multiple users bring devices into the car.
Requirements for Media Indexing
As we discussed in the preceding blog post: When people drive in cars they usually have a phone, a tablet or some wearable device with them that provides access to media in some form. This could be on…
Monday, March 14, 2016 - 14:51
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By ICS Development Team
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IVI, Qt, Media Manager, automotive IVI
At ICS we’ve designed and built numerous In-Vehicle-Infotainment (IVI) systems for passenger automobiles, inflight entertainment (IFE) systems for major International airlines, and related control systems for commercial and agricultural vehicles, forklifts, etc. (See the “From Zero to Amazing” video showcasing our IVI prototype work for Intel here.) We were recently asked to propose a media manager for passenger automobiles, and came up with an interesting architecture that addresses many of the vexing issues with existing IVI solutions.
The challenge for automotive IVI implementations is…
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - 17:40
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By ICS
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ICS HMI Solution, Speech Recognition, IVI, GENIVI, Automotive
Speech recognition has been around for a long time. Products that run on your PC initially required voice training and targeted professionals in vertical industries with highly specialized vocabularies (e.g. doctors). As speech recognition algorithms improved, computer processing got better, and more memory was available to store ever-larger dictionaries of words and phrases, products like Nuance’s Dragon Dictation have eventually gotten to the point where they’re largely general purpose and work very well.Yet speech recognition did not come into wide use until the advent of the smartphone.…
Friday, December 18, 2015 - 13:59
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By Peter Winston
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In-flight entertainment, in-vehicle, In-vehicle infotainment, IFE, automotive IVI, IVI
ICS is one of a very few companies that has worked on both In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) for passenger airlines and In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) for passenger automobiles. Our experience in both IFE and IVI means that one space informs the other, creating a mutually beneficial cycle of ever-increasingly excellent work.
Given our unique perspective on IFE and IVI, we’re in a unique position to comment on the efforts of the smartphone manufacturers to become the IVI platforms for cars.
Specifically: Google’s Android Auto®, Apple’s CarPlay® and Microsoft’s Windows Embedded Automotive®…
Monday, October 5, 2015 - 11:51
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By Peter Winston
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touchscreen, touchscreen interfaces, Interactive Kiosk, IVI
ICS is building large touchscreen kiosks for retailers, through our work on other specialized touchscreen systems such as In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) systems for international airlines and In-Vehicle-Infotainment (IVI) systems for automobile suppliers, we’ve developed an expertise in creating high-performance, compelling and responsive end-user interactive systems. By developing kiosks, we are leveraging that expertise to revolutionize the retail customer experience. With customer experience gaining momentum in many industries, it seems like it’s the obvious natural extension of our…
Intel® In-Vehicle Solutions Proof of Concept - ICS High Level Design Document
Connected Technology
Demand for connected devices in automobiles is accelerating as mobile ecosystems are maturing. The ability for automakers to differentiate in an increasingly competitive environment depends on their ability to integrate a smart in-vehicle infotainment system (IVI) strategy and deliver a fully connected lifestyle to consumers. The manufacturers who succeed at providing an open, scalable and easily configurable automotive IVI will be the future market leaders.
Fast. Easy. Smart.…
Tuesday, December 23, 2014 - 11:56
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By Jeff Tranter
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Qt, Embedded, 2014, IVI, Raspberry Pi, OpenGL
As the year draws to a close, I thought it would be good to take a look back at some of the major events of the Qt world in 2014.
Qt is now on a regular schedule of two major releases per year. We saw Qt 5.3.0 (1) come out in May and Qt 5.4.0 (2) in December. More minor releases occur, as needed, between the major releases.
Qt 4 continues to see maintenance releases with a Qt 4.8.6 (3) coming out this year, and a 4.8.7 release planned in the first quarter of 2015. As announced at Qt Developer Days, Qt 4 will be officially supported for one more year. If the experience of Qt 3 is any…
Thursday, December 11, 2014 - 15:22
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By ICS Development Team
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IVI, QNX, Infotainment Systems, In-vehicle infotainment
Congratulations to our friends at QNX for powering Ford's next Connected Car System, Sync 3.
Given that Qt is the standard GUI toolkit for QNX, I suspect that this means that Qt will soon become the de facto standard for IVI System development as well.
Read more about this in the articles below:
Ford drops Microsoft and revamps its Sync system for more speed - Engadget
Ford Sync 3 revealed: a whole new system with QNX - Slashgear
Ford Sync 3 drops Microsoft, puts MyFord Touch out to pasture - Cnet
With the recent announcements of Apple’s CarPlay® and Google's Android Auto In-Vehicle Infotainment Systems (IVI), in-vehicle systems in general have recently been pulled from relative obscurity into the limelight. IVIs are becoming a much more integral part of everyday life with people spending more and more time in their cars. Having an easy to use system that integrates with technology you are already using (e.g., Smartphone, MP3 player, Tablet, etc.) lets you better enjoy your driving experience.
In this article, I want to introduce a recent user experience (UX) project and the…
Tuesday, January 21, 2014 - 14:25
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By Jeff LeBlanc
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Infotainment Systems, UX, Connected Car, CES, Smartphone, IVI
Everyone remembers his or her first car. Mine was a ’72 Pinto that I traded a busted CD player to get. My dad and I pulled a radio out of my brother’s truck so I could have some tunes while cruising. The tape deck occasionally got hungry and needed to be fed a mixed cassette or two to appease its appetite. I’d like to say I look back at it fondly, but I remember a lot of cursing. Fast forward to 2014, we find the field of In-Vehicle Infotainment Systems (IVI) is a lot flashier than when I got my first car, but there still seems to be a lot of cursing…