Winks and head movements will activate car accessories in Harman infotainment system

DRIVERS may soon be able to control their car accessories by winking, tilting their heads and raising their arms.

DRIVERS may soon be able to control their car accessories by winking, tilting their heads and raising their arms.

US audio and infotainment equipment company Harman says it is developing an infrared-based system for cars that will let motorists make calls and control heating and car radio functions with gestures.

It uses a gestures system similar to Microsoft’s motion sensing system Kinect.

Details of Harman’s gestures system have been reported on UK car site Recombu.

It reports that a wink will switch on the radio, and a tilt of the head will raise or lower the volume. Changing stations and tracks is controlled by taps on the steering wheel.

Phone calls are made by miming the raising of a handset and speaking the name of the caller while drawing a circle displays a contact list. Heating and cooling levels are controlled by arm movements, the report says.

Harman says its system is still a couple of years away, but is confident the gesturing system will not confuse deliberate commands with natural movements, Recombu reports.

Still, an inadvertent wink at another motorist at traffic lights or a nod to your friend sitting beside you might activate a car audio system when least expected, while a ‘pinkie’ gesture made at a car speeding by may throttle a car’s temperature into sauna-like conditions.

There has been concern too that gesture technology in cars could prove a distraction to drivers.

But police in Australia are hopeful gesture technology might improve driving safety. NSW Police say they support technology that improves road safety. 

"I am excited as to what the future holds in the advancement of road safety through technology and if this (gestures recognition) is found to enhance the driving safety of individuals then that would be welcome," said NSW Traffic & Highway Patrol Command Assistant Commissioner John Hartley.

"In the past years we have witnessed improved technology including radar devices that aid in the avoidance of crashes," Assistant Commissioner Hartley said.

He said gesture technology would need approval from authorities before being sanctioned for use in Australian vehicles.

"Whilst this new technology is somewhat untried in the real world it is incumbent upon manufacturers to test and ensure safety as well as pass strict Australian Design Rule compliance before sale and registration procedures can commence," he said.

Inspector Phillip Brooks, Operations Manager, NSW Traffic and Highway Control Command, said that allowing the use of gesture technology in cars was "a wait and see situation", and it would appeal more to young drivers.

"I guess it depends on the motorist. Young drivers certainly will embrace it while older ones might not."

In the US, Ford and General Motors’ Cadillac have also been developing high tech infotainment systems in competition to Harman.