Toyota cars of the future will harness the power of big data

LAS VEGAS — Toyotas of the future are about to get a lot smarter, more connected and more data-heavy. At the 2016 International CES, Toyota announced that it is teaming with Ford to deploy Livio’s SmartDeviceLink (SDL). Additionally, the world's largest automaker will be adding Data Communication Module (DCM) to its Toyota and Lexus vehicles in 2017.

SDL is an open source smartphone app platform that works on both your in-dash infotainment screen as well as your phone. In short, SDL is designed to standardize in-car telematics across the industry. Right now, most carmaker-offered app support systems are proprietary. That means that if you sell your VW and buy a BMW, you can't carry over any of your apps or settings. The SDL aims to change that. Read more...