14 DAY TRIAL // The CES 2016 gadget show in Las Vegas brought several goodies for Microsoft enthusiasts, but in addition to devices that are running the company’s products, there were also a number of firms that actually offered integration for its services in a more innovative way.
Such an example is engineering group IAV, who worked with Microsoft on the development of a so-called connected highly automatic driving (CHAD) vehicle that integrates support for Azure cloud and Windows 10 features.
In addition to a number of safety features that allow the vehicle to communicate with nearby wearables and detect whenever a pedestrian is about to step on the road, the car also comes with support for Windows 10 Mobile devices thanks to a built-in Continuum adapter.
In-car Continuum support
This way, drivers can connect their phones to the car and project Windows 10 right on the display integrated into the vehicle’s infotainment system and use applications while in autonomous mode.
“It’s critical to develop mobility solutions that help keep everyone safe on the road - and in this case, by accurately and quickly relaying information about a vehicle’s surroundings to the driver,” said Peggy Johnson, executive vice president of business development for Microsoft.
“Partnering with IAV and collaborating on their concept vehicle gave us a reliable way to test and refine our unique platform, and we look forward to exploring together our next phases of this project.”
At first glance, this is nothing out of the ordinary because a phone can be plugged into a vehicle’s infotainment system, but thanks to Continuum, the same infotainment system can become a fully featured productivity machine on wheels.
This is one of the opportunities created by Continuum, Microsoft’s innovative feature that allows Windows 10 Mobile device owners to convert their phones into portable PCs using just a little adapter called Display Dock. This way, the phone’s screen is mirrored on a bigger display, and users can work with a mouse and keyboard just as they do on a PC.