To make life easier for car owners, Hyundai has built an augmented reality app called the Virtual Guide. It allows owners to use their phones to get more familiar with their cars and learn how to perform basic maintenance.
All you need to do is hold up your phone and the digital guide will tell you what to do.
You can use the app to get an augmented reality view of the engine compartment or interior of the car, with floating digital dots illustrating different points of interest like the windshield washer bottle or the location of the air filter. Tap one of the dots and you can get an illustrated, step-by-step walkthrough of the related maintenance item or, if you’re inside the vehicle you can get a tutorial in how to use different functions of the car like pairing a phone with Bluetooth.
The Hyundai Virtual Guide app lets you point at any of 45 different parts of the vehicle to see both 2D and 3D overlays and video tutorials explaining what each part does, how to remove or fix it and other useful information.
From the dashboard controls to engine components, the AR app can guide you through a number of useful tasks, including changing brake fluid, replacing the air filter, pairing a Bluetooth device or topping up the oil. While the services the app provides are relatively low level – it won’t have you ready to join a pit crew – the app is super cool and easy to follow, demystifying newer engines for the uninitiated.