BMW HoloActive Touch holographic interior concept revealed at CES 2017
Futuristic cockpit uses HUD technology to create holographic displays, complete with haptic feedback
BMW has unveilied its latest infotainment creation at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show. The futuristic HoloActive Touch display system builds on the AirTouch gesture control tech seen at CES the same time last year.
The HoloActive Touch system combines that gesture control system with touchscreens and tech similar to that of head-up displays to create a whole new interior layout. The information and controls spill out of the screen on the centre console and is right at the driver’s fingertips.
• CES 2017: latest car tech news
All of the functions displayed on the screens can be controlled with no physical contact whatsoever – a camera tracks the driver’s hand, registering the position of the fingertip and detecting when it comes into contact with one of the holographic projections.
The driver should also experience “tactile feedback” when scrolling through the virtual menus via ultrasound waves.
It’s a glimpse into the future for sure, and a future that may not be too far off. In 2015, BMW debuted the gesture control technology now available in the latest 7 Series and 5 Series models, setting a precedent that the technology usually on show is destined for future production.
HoloActive Touch will form the centrepiece of BMW’s theme for CES. It’s part of the BMW i Inside Future study, which will showcase “the mobility experience set to be offered by seamlessly connected and autonomously-driving cars in the future”. The show kicks off on 3 January.
Read everything we know about the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show here.
