Apple Touchscreen Dashboard For Cars Gets Patent Treatment

An Apple touchscreen dashboard for cars may be on the way thanks to a new patent filed by the tech giant.

The patent would turn the manual controls in a users car into touchscreen capable options via an included display.

With the new Apple touchscreen dashboard drivers will be able to control temperature, change radio stations, and much more.

The patent filing arrives less than one month after Ford announced that it would start transitioning back to physical buttons, which lead to less driving distraction and confusion when compared to touchscreen based vehicle operating systems.

The new Apple patent for the dashboard touchscreen is the continuation of a patent the tech firm filed in 2011.

At Apple’s developer conference this year, company executives talked about bringing iOS to vehicles. The company at the time of its announcement didn’t give much insight into the platform it was creating for cars, vans, and other modes of transportation.

Apple could use Airplay to beam content from a users phone to their vehicle’s display.

“iOS in the Car” is expected to make a 2014 debut and will work with iPhone 5 and likely iPhone 5S smartphones. Users will be able to make phone calls, send and receive messages, access their music, and get directions right from the dashboard.

Apple will also include Siri for hands free navigation and information retrieval. A program known as “Siri Eyes Free” is currently available in GM’s Chevy Spark and Sonic via the Chevrolet MyLink system. Other manufacturers currently working to brin ghte handsfree Siri platform to market include Toyota, Honda, Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Land Rover, and Jaguar.

I personally hope they don’t try to pull some weird kind of monthly payment switch that only serves to lock customers into more Apple supported contract.

Are you ready for Apple to offer a touchscreen dashboard for cars?