How will autonomous cars will keep us occupied?
Autonomous cars are set to take over the responsibility of controlling our cars, so what are we supposed to do?
We are entering a very exciting time for personal mobility. Autonomous cars are creeping out of the realms of futuristic fantasy and are now tangible things thanks to the boffins at companies such as Google, Bosch and Tesla. Within just a few years they could be available to the general public.
But when they’ve finished marveling at their car’s auto-pilot abilities, what exactly will occupants be doing with their newfound free time? Mercedes has some suggestions, which it is previewing in its F015 research vehicle. The car debuted at the CES electronics show in Las Vegas in January 2015 and I recently got up close with it in its latest form.
The F015 is intended to be seen as not just as a personal mobility device but more of a mobile living space, with Mercedes placing a large emphasis on augmented reality and virtual reality technologies. We sampled the car on a demonstration rig that showed how an autonomous journey could become more engaging with augmented reality technology. For example, holding your hand up to monuments or buildings as you are driven past them unlocks a world of information about them on the car’s windscreen.
Dr Michael WhiteleyImagine being whisked through ugly city streets while you enjoy views of racetracks or B-roads…
This technology is relatively simple, and relies on optical finger tracking, GPS co-ordinates and locally stored data. The displays currently being used are 3D projections such as those you can experience in a cinema today. However, Mercedes suggests that future technologies could project images directly onto the retina of your eye.
Using virtual reality headsets, we were next treated to an experience akin to one which Mercedes predicts will be possible in the next few decades. It showed how the F015’s interior could augment or even block out the outside world, with your own choice of surroundings projected into your headset. Imagine your car whisking you through ugly city streets while you enjoy views of racetracks or B-roads that move perfectly in sync with the car.
Meanwhile, on a much more simple level, six integrated touchscreen displays around the car, including four covering the door panels, offer passengers another way to interact with the connected vehicle.
Autonomous cars may hold limited appeal to petrolheads seeking engaging driver involvement. However, for those monotonous journeys along motorways and in daily traffic, the future that Mercedes is predicting undoubtedly has its place.
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Comments (1)
The answer is all the stuff you are not supposed to be doing now. texting, makeup, eating hamburgers, turning around and yelling at the kids.... I would be interested in hearing about anybody who is currenly using advaced driver assist. Like in the mercedes. My wife is going to need an upgrade soon and im wondering if its a worth while option?
Cheers