The owner's manual for the 2015 Hyundai Sonata is more than 700 pages. In fact, owner's manuals in general are so unwieldy – both by weight and actual use – that the problem you're having must be greater than the hassle of dealing with the instruction guide. Hyundai wants to make that easier with its Virtual Guide, an augmented reality app for smartphones and tablets that puts answer to the most common points of confusion at your fingertips.
Once you open the app you start by choosing your exact vehicle trim. There are 16 different trim and package options for the Sonata, all of them have been scanned so that the app can show your specific car and features. After that there are several options that allow different means of getting the info you need. Point your phone's or tablet's camera at the engine bay, the app will overlay the locations of items like the air cooler, battery, and dispstick. Press any of the boxes in the display and the app will take you step-by-step through the process of attending to each system. There's another AR overlay for the interior.
One neat feature that isn't AR is a picture of the gauge cluster and all of its Christmas tree lights. Press any one of them and the app will explain what the light means and what to do when it appears. Another portion of the app is pictures of every angle of the car with highlightable areas that provide more info on things like seat operation and what's in the trunk.
Audi has an augemented reality app called eKurzinfo in the UK for three of its models, but it appears that Hyundai is the first mainstream maker in the US to provide such technology. Virtual Guide is available for the Sonata now at the Apple App Store and Google Play. Other models will join the Guide as Hyundai gets more of its models scanned. The videos and the press release below have more information.
Once you open the app you start by choosing your exact vehicle trim. There are 16 different trim and package options for the Sonata, all of them have been scanned so that the app can show your specific car and features. After that there are several options that allow different means of getting the info you need. Point your phone's or tablet's camera at the engine bay, the app will overlay the locations of items like the air cooler, battery, and dispstick. Press any of the boxes in the display and the app will take you step-by-step through the process of attending to each system. There's another AR overlay for the interior.
One neat feature that isn't AR is a picture of the gauge cluster and all of its Christmas tree lights. Press any one of them and the app will explain what the light means and what to do when it appears. Another portion of the app is pictures of every angle of the car with highlightable areas that provide more info on things like seat operation and what's in the trunk.
Audi has an augemented reality app called eKurzinfo in the UK for three of its models, but it appears that Hyundai is the first mainstream maker in the US to provide such technology. Virtual Guide is available for the Sonata now at the Apple App Store and Google Play. Other models will join the Guide as Hyundai gets more of its models scanned. The videos and the press release below have more information.
HYUNDAI VIRTUAL GUIDE INTRODUCES AUGMENTED REALITY TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL
- First Mainstream Automaker to Launch 2D/3D Owner's Manual for Smartphones and Tablet Computers
- Hyundai Virtual Guide Provides Convenient, Simple Ways to Become Familiar with Full Vehicle Capabilities
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10, 2015 – Later this year, Hyundai will be the first mainstream automaker to launch an augmented reality owner's manual app. The Hyundai Virtual Guide app is the brand's modern take on the traditional owner's manual, allowing consumers to use their smartphone or tablet computer to get how-to information for repairs, maintenance and vehicle features. At launch, the Hyundai Virtual Guide is compatible with the 2015 Sonata model, and will soon become available for additional models. The new app recognizes more than 45 major features of the Sonata and is available for free download on the Apple App store and Google Play.
Hyundai used quality consumer survey results to determine the top difficult-to-use features to incorporate into the Virtual Guide. The app also contains 82 how-to videos, six 3D overlay images that appear once users scan areas of their vehicle like the engine bay and more than 50 informational guides.
"The Virtual Guide is aimed at educating our owners on how to use the functions and features of their vehicle," said Frank Ferrara, executive vice president, customer satisfaction, Hyundai Motor America. "We modernized the idea of an owner's manual to provide the highest-quality user experience for the growing population of tech savvy consumers."
The Hyundai Virtual Guide uses two- and three-dimensional tracking technology to deliver deep levels of information related to different parts of the car. Users simply position their phone or tablet's camera over the part they want to learn more about.
The Hyundai Virtual Guide can virtually identify and provide how-to information on the following features:
- Air filter
- Smart Cruise Control
- Bluetooth phone pairing
- Warning indicators
- Clock
- Engine oil
- Brake fluid
- Fuse box
- Smart trunk
Hyundai is a leader in reinventing the thick owner's manual sitting in every car's glove box. In 2010, Hyundai redefined the luxury-vehicle ownership experience with the launch of the Equus Owner's Manual App for iPad®, iPhone and iPod touch. In 2014, the Hyundai Assurance Car Care mobile and in-vehicle app arrived as another convenient option for accessing car care services and vehicle information. The in-vehicle Car Care app put the owner's manual right inside the vehicle's touchscreen, giving customers the services and information they want the most, when and where they need them most: right inside the car.
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. Hyundai Blue Link Connected Care provides owners of Hyundai models equipped with the Blue Link telematics system with proactive safety and car care services complimentary for one year with enrollment. These services include Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly Vehicle Health Report and In-Vehicle Service Scheduling.
- First Mainstream Automaker to Launch 2D/3D Owner's Manual for Smartphones and Tablet Computers
- Hyundai Virtual Guide Provides Convenient, Simple Ways to Become Familiar with Full Vehicle Capabilities
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10, 2015 – Later this year, Hyundai will be the first mainstream automaker to launch an augmented reality owner's manual app. The Hyundai Virtual Guide app is the brand's modern take on the traditional owner's manual, allowing consumers to use their smartphone or tablet computer to get how-to information for repairs, maintenance and vehicle features. At launch, the Hyundai Virtual Guide is compatible with the 2015 Sonata model, and will soon become available for additional models. The new app recognizes more than 45 major features of the Sonata and is available for free download on the Apple App store and Google Play.
Hyundai used quality consumer survey results to determine the top difficult-to-use features to incorporate into the Virtual Guide. The app also contains 82 how-to videos, six 3D overlay images that appear once users scan areas of their vehicle like the engine bay and more than 50 informational guides.
"The Virtual Guide is aimed at educating our owners on how to use the functions and features of their vehicle," said Frank Ferrara, executive vice president, customer satisfaction, Hyundai Motor America. "We modernized the idea of an owner's manual to provide the highest-quality user experience for the growing population of tech savvy consumers."
The Hyundai Virtual Guide uses two- and three-dimensional tracking technology to deliver deep levels of information related to different parts of the car. Users simply position their phone or tablet's camera over the part they want to learn more about.
The Hyundai Virtual Guide can virtually identify and provide how-to information on the following features:
- Air filter
- Smart Cruise Control
- Bluetooth phone pairing
- Warning indicators
- Clock
- Engine oil
- Brake fluid
- Fuse box
- Smart trunk
Hyundai is a leader in reinventing the thick owner's manual sitting in every car's glove box. In 2010, Hyundai redefined the luxury-vehicle ownership experience with the launch of the Equus Owner's Manual App for iPad®, iPhone and iPod touch. In 2014, the Hyundai Assurance Car Care mobile and in-vehicle app arrived as another convenient option for accessing car care services and vehicle information. The in-vehicle Car Care app put the owner's manual right inside the vehicle's touchscreen, giving customers the services and information they want the most, when and where they need them most: right inside the car.
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. Hyundai Blue Link Connected Care provides owners of Hyundai models equipped with the Blue Link telematics system with proactive safety and car care services complimentary for one year with enrollment. These services include Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly Vehicle Health Report and In-Vehicle Service Scheduling.
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