Google Applies for Patent on Gesture-Based Car Controls
A new patent application by Google reveals that the company is working on motion-based in-car controls.
The California tech giant has apparently filed a patent application for a system that would allow drivers to control their cars through hand motions. Using a ceiling-mounted depth camera and a laser scanner, the user can trigger actions within the car. For example, swiping your hand near the window could roll it down.
SEE ALSO: Google Glass Banned While Driving in UK
There’s no guarantee that the system will ever make it into a mass market vehicle. Authorities in the U.K. banned drivers from using Google Glass even though the product isn’t commercially available. But the application was filed the day after Google acquired a motion control company, so there’s a chance this could be folded into the futuristic Google car.
[Source: Engadget]
Luke is an energetic automotive journalist who spends his time covering industry news and crawling the internet for the latest breaking story. When he isn't in the office, Luke can be found obsessively browsing used car listings, drinking scotch at his favorite bar and dreaming of what to drive next, though the list grows a lot faster than his bank account. He's always on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> looking for a good car conversation. Find Luke on <A title="@lukevandezande on Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/lukevandezande">Twitter</A> and <A title="Luke on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/112531385961538774338?rel=author">Google+</A>.
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What does the Bird Flipping gesture do ...when you're surrounded by bikers?
That's all I need is a car that does something when I swat a mosquito.