How Silicon Valley Innovations Improve Driving Safety

The Audi 3G MMI system makes it far easier for drivers to use input destination commands by voice or searching for mobile phone contacts — reducing the need to focus on a screen. When a screen is needed, the 3G MMI system utilizes advanced NVIDIA technology to provide high-quality 3D graphics, which make it easier to identify the surroundings of a destination and points of interest. The system also provides significantly more visual information, rather than text information so it’s easier to understand at a glance.

Most importantly, it allows those functions to be seamlessly integrated into the car, so that it’s more intuitive for drivers to find what they need and have it displayed in a way that doesn’t distract from their focus on the road.

Coming this fall, Audi will take the practical safety benefits of this technology to another level with the next-generation Audi A8 flagship sedan. The 2011 A8 features an Audi-exclusive touchpad that allows motorists to use their finger to trace letters and numbers, enabling them to search for a destination while keeping their eyes on the road.

The new 3G MMI navigation plus system in the Audi A8 will also enable the integration of Google Earth mapping and destination search. This addition under consideration for the U.S. market will provide the most up-to-date Internet-driven navigation maps available in the industry – an advance that reduces motorist confusion while driving to a destination.

Engineers from both Audi and NVIDIA are continuing to work on deepening the ties between Silicon Valley innovation and German engineering to deliver safer driving experiences.