Taking multi-touch and gesture recognition (MT/GR) into the auto may have some very cool user and manufacturer benefits. This article posted by Marie Freebody at Optics.Org gives some very good insight on this topic in her discussion of Osram Opto Semi’s auto solution.

Taking advantage of MT/GR use in the automotive environment can increase safety, enhance the pleasure of motoring and provide significant opportunities to auto manufacturers for part and weight reduction.

Any technology that reduces driver distraction can and will save lives and prevent injuries. By providing MT/GR technology to the standard GPS display available in most cars virtually all control functions of the auto’s subsystems (i.e. audio, climate control, seat adjustment, windows, etc.) are managed by gestures on the display without the need to look at the display. This eliminates the need to visually locate a given control knob or toggle switch located in various areas of the dashboard.

The driver experience is enhanced by the elimination of analog knobs and switch controls. By providing audio feedback to gesture input on the display the driver and auto can intuitively communicate precise control settings.

By eliminating the need for the analog controls and their associated wiring assemblies the auto manufacturing is dramatically simplified with fewer parts and increased reliability.

-Phil

I finally get around to comment on the announcement of this report…

In early May, DisplaySearch announced its upcoming report “Touch Panel Market Analysis“. The announcement highlights some interesting data points:

• Touch panel market to grow to $3.3 billion and 660 million units by 2015
• Mobile phones will account for 34% of all touch panel shipments and 21% of revenues
• Shipments of touch enabled mobile phones will reach 223 million units by 2015
• Resistive touch solutions will retain 86%
• Resistive revenue share will drop from 78% in 2007 to 64% in 2015

The industry is currently investing heavily in R&D to develop new touch technologies, so I’m a bit surprised to see the lion’s share of both shipments and revenues for the next 7 years to be resistive touch. Could it be that DisplaySearch expects resistive multi-touch to stave off competing technologies?

 I’m cautious about reports that so obviously uses approximate figures ($3.3 billion / 660 million units = $5/unit), but I do interpret it as a validation point that Sima is on to something big and that we’ve only seen the beginning of multi-touch and gesture recognition in mobile and portable devices.

- Marten