BMW to get gesture-based controls

BMW recently announced that it will be showing off a new gesture-based interface at Consumer Electronics Show 2016 that will allow drivers to control certain features of their vehicle with a simple swipe of their hand.

This technology, dubbed AirTouch, allows functions such as music playback, navigation and phone communication to be controlled with hand gestures.

AirTouch uses a group of sensors located between the car console and interior mirror to ensure hand motions can be read without the need to take eyes off the road to fumble with a smartphone or a built-in touchscreen.

A button located on the steering wheel helps speed up inputs when using AirTouch. While one hand makes the gestures to navigate though menus, the other hand confirms selections with the button, ensuring that the 'touchless' system works quickly without having to take a hand off the wheel.

"AirTouch allows the display in a vehicle to be operated like a touchscreen without actually having to make contact with the surface," said BMW in an official release. "This allows the driver to focus all their concentration on the road ahead".

BMW also claims that AirTouch takes "another big leap forward" by offering 3D controls and a wide, panoramic display.