Lots of talk at CES of connected cars confabbing with connected homes and connected units and the like is delivered with the exact same promise: that connectivity between internet-enabled devices and appliances in addition to other aspects of our lifetimes will improve lifestyle. The so-called Internet of Things will furnish another age of stress-relieving automation, or possibly even longer we're told. Into this hopeful fray crashes audio supplier Harman, and that has announced at CES that must be integrating Microsoft Office 365 into its connected-car infotainment suite. Is definitely not sacred anymore?

Despite the fact that "Internet of Things" operates in the background-by design-and does hold a great amount of promise for improving existence, sticking Microsoft Office 365 inside the car does the opposite. It brings work to qualify for the car, an establishment that, previously (lateral side of phone calls) was a work-free zone. A sanctum. For car people, their car will be their happy place. In Harman's world, that might no longer be the scenario.

Now, small children that even though, the (safe) ability to schedule meetings, be read or dictate emails, and join conference calls using popular software already deeply utilized in their lives, and furthermore even Skype into video conferences (during park, Harman says), had been a boon to productivity. We aren't people, mostly because we love to our downtime/car time. Keep in mind, the dynamic shifts quite slightly when, as Harman does, you think about how for the not-so-distant future we will all be reduced onto the meaty sausage filling inside autonomous metal casings. Then, enhanced Office 365 integration might be more fruitful to car occupants-not a single article safer to exploit-but to us that's perhaps another demerit around the self-driving car. Because, when your smart phone, smart home, and self-driving car will be linked to the office, what time do you ever truly have to yourself?

Luckily, for the, Harman has only announced its collaborative partnership with Microsoft along with intent to integrate Office 365 into its infotainment units. (An outline version of the unit is presented at CES inside of the BMW i8-based Rinspeed Etos concept.) The 24/7 time-table, therefore, remains quite some time off when you need it.