What Everyone in Automotive College Should Know About Jaguar Land Rover's Touchless Touchscreen
The future is here—and Jaguar is fully embracing it. British automaker Jaguar Land Rover has developed an intriguing new technology for its vehicles, and is developing it in collaboration with the University of Cambridge. Their new touchless touchscreens, known at present as “predictive touch” technology, are built to anticipate what the driver might choose on the screen without even laying a finger on it.
It might not make a lot of sense to still call it a “touchscreen” when no touching is involved, but it can provide many benefits for safety, convenience, and comfort. Here are some facts you need to know about the new touchless touchscreen from Jaguar.
A Breakdown of How the Technology Works for Automotive College Students
Those using touchless touchscreens will point their finger in the direction of where their chosen item is located on the screen. Upon doing this, the system will automatically highlight it before being selected. The system uses artificial intelligence and a machine learning algorithm to predict what the user intends on doing, via gesture tracking technology. This combines a variety of contextual info and several types of sensors (radio and/or vision-based) in order to determine what the user will do. Eliciting comparisons to BMW’s Gesture Controls system, these touchless screens have already produced positive results with regards to time—the University of Cambridge has said that effort by the driver with the screen has been slashed in half following tests with the screens.
It’s More than Just Futuristic Technology—It’s Meant to Keep Drivers Safer, Too
One of the most important aspects for automotive college students to remember with this technology is the fact that these screens are meant to limit possible distractions for the driver, especially while the car is moving. Since it’s meant to predict which option the driver is going to select without them even touching the screen, this allows for less time for the driver to be focused on the screen rather than their surroundings. The technology also becomes increasingly accurate and personalized with continued use. Another benefit of these screens is that, by not physically touching the screen, they can help minimize the amount of viruses and/or bacteria present on it. With the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, this is a significant upside of the technology.
Some Other Quick Facts About the Touchless Touchscreens Worth Knowing
While it remains unclear when this touchless touchscreen technology will hit the market, students in mechanic school should know that Jaguar Land Rover has described this type of technology as a “film” that can be integrated onto infotainment display systems that drivers already have, provided their sensory data is compatible with the system and their infotainment software is up to date. Furthermore, Cambridge claims that the touchless technology does not require a learning curve for the user, and that those with disabilities related to motor skills, including Parkinson’s, could find this technology useful in situations where their hands could move abruptly and suddenly.
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