An owner’s manual you point at the car
To make life easier for car owners, Hyundai has built an augmented reality app called the Virtual Guide. It allows Hyundai owners to use their smart phones to get more familiar with their car and learn how to perform basic maintenance without delving into a hundred page owner’s manual.
Here is a short demo video of the app from The Verge at CES 2016.
The clever part: help appears exactly where you need it
Instead of searching through pages, you point your phone at the car and learn in-context. That one shift. From reading about a feature to seeing guidance on the actual part. Makes learning faster and less frustrating.
Why this is a big deal for everyday ownership
Most drivers do not ignore manuals because they do not care. They ignore them because the effort is too high at the moment they need help. AR lowers that effort by turning “How do I…?” into a quick visual answer while you are standing next to the car.
What Hyundai is really building here
Fewer support moments, fewer avoidable service misunderstandings, and a smoother owner experience that strengthens trust in the brand long after purchase.
What to steal if you design product help
- Move instruction from documentation into the environment. In-context guidance beats search.
- Design for the real moment of need. Standing next to the product, phone in hand.
- Make “basic maintenance” feel doable. Confidence is a retention lever.
The Virtual Guide app will be available in the next month or two for the 2015 and the 2016 Hyundai Sonata and will come to the rest of the Hyundai range later on this year.
A few fast answers before you act
What is Hyundai Virtual Guide?
An augmented reality app that helps Hyundai owners learn car features and perform basic maintenance using a smartphone instead of relying on the printed owner’s manual.
How does it work in practice?
You use your phone to view parts of the car and get guidance designed to help you understand features and maintenance steps in context.
Which models does the post say it supports first?
The post says it will be available first for the 2015 and 2016 Hyundai Sonata, then expand across the Hyundai range later in the year.
Where was the demo shown?
The post references a demo video from The Verge at CES 2016.
