Automotive Gamification Revolution?
According to the folks at CultOfMac, CES 2013 is underway and Ford has announced something exciting and potentially very big for the gamification community
This morning Ford has announced that their formerly closed AppLink service has been opened for all iOS and Android developers to create apps that will be able to speak to a number of the car’s services.
Ford is calling this new initiative the Ford Developer Program and it will be available for free.
Of course, all newly developed apps for AppLink will have to pass rigorous safety testing and be free of excessive video and/or text but I see there being a significant potential for sound and positive feedback loops for gamification developers.
Most automobile gamification efforts have existed in just the dashboard of hybrid cars. It has seen success, especially with Ford’s MyMobile from CES 2011. But the interactivity from these systems are only limited to the driver being in the car, using those specific systems.
What if outside gamified apps began to speak to your car’s information and began to give you feedback on your driving and even began to reward you for your actions?
For some this is a bit of a scary proposition and the beginning of Skynet but I think its worth it to consider how gamification designers might start thinking about how to incorporate more gamified elements that can engage the driver beyond sustainable driving methods.
What if the Nike Fuelband app knew you were in a car and adjusted your Fuel score accordingly? What if a podcast app like DoggCatcher utilized all your car’s channels for a subversive audio experience and scored your ability to listen to podcasts on a daily basis? Wouldn’t it be neat if the GPS system of your phone could figure out when you’re in traffic, report that to Waze, and then create a game for you with your car stereo to make the time pass by easier? It would also be amazing if your favorite gas station began incorporating a loyalty application and scored your usage at their pumps, while rewarding you for repeat visits.
These are just a few ideas off the top of my head and while how feasible these concepts are to be debated, it provides some food for thought on how to create or incorporate existing gamified efforts into the automobile realm.
Again, safety is tantamount when considering these ideas but if driving became more like Mario Kart and gave me all the noises I heard in that game…I might just be a little too happy to drive to work.
