BMW’s AirTouch concept turns your entire auto into a touchscreen controller

The concept – which BMW is temporarily calling Vision Car – will give show-goers a preview of what the cabin of tomorrow might look like.

Gesture control uses a 3D sensor to track your finger movements, allowing you to adjust infotainment functions and even accept or reject incoming calls.

A new image has been released of the BMW i8 Spyder, where we get to see a glimpse of its interior.

The Bavarian firm mentions the intuitive control of entertainment, communications and navigation with air gestures thanks to a new technology called the AirTouch, which allows the occupants to operate the display like a touchscreen without actually having to touch it.

After introducing Gesture Control in its 7 Series, German automaker BMW is planning to introduce AirTouch to its infotainment system. The display though lacks any interface which makes us believe it could be compliant with an advanced version of the AirTouch gesture control system as is evident in the 7-Series. Sensors are installed in the area of the instrument dashboard which respond to hand movements here and therefore permit three-dimensional control. The desired menu item selection or a feature activation can be a very simple selection this way. And to add to the appeal, the carmaker has also come up with an image depicting the interior of the auto that show a large color display fitted along the passenger side at the front. It is on the left and easy to reach with the thumb, and it lights up when a menu or icon can be activated.

BMW says the new intelligent AirTouch menu control reduces the number of steps needed to make a selection. The Munich-based auto maker promises AirTouch was designed with autonomous freeway driving in mind, but it’s keeping additional information under wraps.