Holographic Touch Interface in a CAR? - BMW @ CES 2017

BMW at CES 2017 presents a radical interior concept called the iInside future, reframing the car as a living space rather than a traditional cockpit. The host explains that autonomous five-series prototypes use a combination of ultrasonic front radar, rear cameras, and HD map data to safely navigate and adapt to changing routes, including construction zones, by sharing information across OEMs. A key highlight is the shift from conventional dashboards to an open, spacious cabin designed for relaxed autonomous travel, with separate headrest speakers and sound curtains that provide targeted audio while preserving quiet for the driver. Holographic displays with gesture sensing and haptic feedback are showcased as the primary interface, visible only to the driver, creating a futuristic, almost air-floating control surface. The system relies on Intel RealSense for gesture detection and a transducer array that produces a tingling sensation when interacting with the virtual controls, making the experience tactile even in the absence of physical buttons. In back, the concept envisions a lounge-like environment with a 4K projection screen and a bookshelflike interface for back-seat entertainment, suggesting a comfortable, cinema-like experience during autonomous travel. The presenter notes that while this is a sculpture phase concept, the core ideas point toward future mobility where driving remains a central activity, but the passenger experience can be highly customized and multimodal, including different audio zones and private calls. Overall, BMW positions this vision as an integrated ecosystem where cloud connectivity, smart mapping, and voice assistants converge to streamline everyday tasks like shopping or valet-like parking, all while preserving the driving identity of the brand during the transition to autonomous mobility.

Topics · technology · automotive · concept-design · future-mobility