BMW to Show Off Tactile-feedback Floating HoloActive Touch Interface at CES

BMW will be present in Las Vegas for CES 2017 to demonstrate their latest in-car display technology called the HoloActive Touch Interface which boasts tactile feedback despite being a floating display. The HoloActive Touch Interface is something straight out of sci-fi movies, able to accept finger gestures mid-air as well as on-screen (which serves as a backup option just in case). Similar to BMW’s Head-Up Display, the full-color HoloActive Touch display is generated with the use of reflections and projections. A camera is able to detect the driver’s hand movements (similar to Intel’s RealSense 3D camera technology), and triggers certain functions when the finger is in a certain position. It will also be fully integrated with other BMW connected services and can be customized to the user’s requirements.

Since BMW claims that the HoloActive Touch is tactile with perceptible feedback, it is something that must be experienced first hand. BMW will be letting CES 2017 attendees see and feel it for themselves as part of the BMW i Inside Future study in Las Vegas from January 5 through 8th 2017.  BMW year after year impresses at the event, showing off their mirrorless BMW i8 concept in early 2016 which was equipped with cameras all over in place of mirrors. BWM also showed the pre-cursor to the HoloActive touch with the BMW AirTouch at last year’s CES which allowed similar gesture detection to control the car’s operation. The HoloActive Touch takes that concept to a much higher level with tactile feedback since it will allow users to know instinctively that the input was accepted. Those who wish the try out the feature at CES better line up early however as there tends to be a long queue every day to try it out first hand before it hits the market.