Sometimes, adjusting our car seats can be a little tedious. First, you have to find the right lever, pull it, bring the seat back or forward just the right amount until finally, you have some semblance of comfort.
If researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute and Isringhausen GmbH have their way, however, it could get far easier very soon.
Instead of using a series of levers and knobs, researchers have developed a car seat that uses simple swipe gestures that users already know how to perform if they have a smartphone.
The interface itself is located along the bottom of the seat. The user first presses their finger on the covering of the interface panel, which powers up the system. Having to power the system up is an important feature, as it prevents the system from accidentally reading gestures and adjusting the seat, which could be problematic while the user is driving. Pressing on the spot also allows the user to access previous seat configurations, which can be saved — great news for a family that might have multiple people using the same car.
Once the system has been turned on, proximity sensors can detect changes in the electrical field around the panel, which will be caused by the movement of the user's hand. Users can simply brush their finger on the seat covering, indicating that they want to move forward or backward, up or down and more inclined or less inclined. Motors in the seat then adjust it based on those gestures. Once the user moves their hand away from the system, it shuts itself off to prevent any further movement.
Of course, it's not exactly the same as a touchscreen, but the use of finger gestures makes it a very similar concept. Perhaps the next step would be using car connectivity to allow users to control their seats through an app on their smartphone. The car tech developed by Fraunhofer will also feature an LED light on their dash, indicating that gestures are being received and read.
The technology is not just a concept, however. Fraunhofer and Isringhausen plan on commercializing the technology involved to be used in midrange and high-end cars. It will make its first official appearance at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in September. Of course, it might be a few years before we find the tech in our cars, however, once it is featured, it will certainly be helpful.
Via: Gizmag
