In a video released last month, Land Rover released some if its ideas for what the future of driving might look like. While the company are known for producing premium vehicles that remain popular in used outlets like ExchangeandMart, what they’ve shown off here looks like it’s from a science-fiction movie. Here’s what they have planned.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality could soon be a commonplace part of our daily lives. Land Rover showed a demo of this technology working last year by using screens embedded in each pillar inside the car. These screens take advantage of a live feed drawn from exterior cameras which cover angles normally obscured by blind spots. When the driver moves their head, the pillars become transparent so they can better view potential road hazards like crossing pedestrians or cyclists. One of the most notable examples of this was the so-called ‘invisible bonnet” that Land Rover feel will benefit off-road drivers.
Land Rover also plans to implement a so-called ‘Ghost Car’ navigation system as well as display important information about the vehicle on the windscreen – like a HUD in a computer game. This is powered by cloud technology and could present information like how many parking spaces are available nearby or the cost of fuel at the next station. The Ghost Car system presents a virtual image of a translucent vehicle in front you which you can then follow to your destination.
Self-Learning
You could soon have your very own KITT. Using similar technology that allows you to receive recommendations of content from other services, Land Rover plans to incorporate this into your car. For instance, your preferred preferences for features like air conditioning or heating will be remembered and automatically adjusted for the situation.
The concept is contextual computing and you’ll be seeing a lot more of it as time goes on. Changes to the media and entertainment system could also be automatically altered depending on who else in the car, the time of day, and even your mood. By using eye-tracking software, Land Rover aims to be able to better cater to your needs depending on how you feel. This can also be seen in the interface of the display. If the system felt you were more tired than usual, it could increase the brightness or contrast of the information to make sure you were aware of it.
While this technology may be out of reach for the majority of consumer-grade vehicles right now, it seems inevitable that this is where the automotive industry is moving. How do you feel about these features? Let us know in the comments below.