BMW To Showcase HoloActive Touch System At CES 2017

This feature is an interface between the driver and vehicle, which acts as a virtual touchscreen.

German automobile manufacturer BMW will showcase its new concept for car interiors at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The BMW HoloActive Touch system will be one of the features debuting at the show. This feature is an interface between the driver and vehicle, which acts as a virtual touchscreen. It is a free-floating display that can be operated by finger gestures and gives a tactile feedback to the user.

BMW claims that the HoloActive Touch combines the advantages of three technologies: the BMW Head-Up Display, BMW gesture control and the standard touchscreen. It also has extra features for a unique user interface. It gives the flexibility to control the wide variety of services provided by BMW without any physical contact and, at the same time, offers tangible driver-vehicle interaction, similar to conventional touchscreens.   

BMW has explained the working of the HoloActive Touch. The image of a full-colour display will be projected next to the steering wheel at the height of the centre console rather than the windscreen as in Head-Up Display. A camera detects the driver’s hand movements and registers the position of their fingertips. As soon as the user makes contact with one of the virtual control surfaces, the relevant function is activated.   

BMW showcased the gesture control technology – which is now available in the BMW 7 Series and 5 Series models – at the 2015 CES. And the AirTouch system that allows the user to control the touchscreens with simple hand gestures was showcased at 2016 CES. However, the German automaker claims that the HoloActive Touch will take the vehicle interaction experience to another level. Let's wait until January to find what the hype is all about. Stay tuned to CarDekho for further updates.   

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