Subaru lets you get social while driving

With the adoption of a front facing 9mp camera internally mounted onto the rear view mirror, and the complementing reversing camera, drivers can now capture front or rear facing HD photographs and videos which can be previewed on the vehicle's infotainment system, prior to sharing socially.

Using the vehicle's voice recognition command system, drivers can then also dictate a message to accompany the images being shared socially as status updates or comments.

Functions

Four new functions can be accessed using the steering wheel controls:

1. Camera select - switches between the front and rear cameras

2. S# - share to Twitter function
3. I - share to Instagram

4. S - share to Snapchat

The vehicle's infotainment system allows for the social media accounts to be set up initially, allowing photographs and text to be shared on the fly without lifting one's hands off the steering wheels. The system requires a mobile device to be paired for internet connectivity via Bluetooth.

Promoting focused driving

The technology was developed after several studies demonstrated the risk associated with mobile phone usage whilst driving, with specific reference to social media engagement. Tested extensively in the US, the system has proven invaluable in ensuring that drivers do not take their hands off the wheel but rather remain focused on driving, first and foremost, whilst being able to share images and videos of their adventures safely with social fans and followers.

Project chief engineer Ai Lai remarks "With the growing trend of dash cam capturing and social media usage whilst driving, we looked for a way to be able to do this in a much safer and more responsible way."

Available from 1 April, the system will be standard on all vehicles sold in SA, as part of the Subaru April Fools Imaginative campaign.