Hyundai and Zeiss have unveiled a concept that turns a car’s windshield into a huge holographic display. According to experts, this will avoid oversaturation of the cabin with touch screens and improve safety.
Image source: mobis.com
Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai’s parts division, is teaming up with German optics company Zeiss to develop a concept that could radically change how drivers interact with their cars. As TechSpot reports, instead of the usual touch screens, control of functions and access to information will be carried out through a holographic projection on the windshield, called Holographic Windshield Display (Holographic HUD).
The concept suggests that all menus, apps, videos and even games will be displayed across the entire width of the windshield, turning it into one large display. The concept rendering shown here lacks a central touchscreen, indicating that the primary input methods will likely be voice control, gestures, and physical buttons on the steering wheel and console, since reaching out and touching the windshield is impossible.
In a press release, Hyundai Mobis describes the technology as “a panoramic display of navigation and other information through the windshield.” Separate functions are provided for passengers. They will be able to watch movies or make video calls to friends, which will be displayed as holograms on the glass. As for the driver, for safety reasons, the information displayed to him will be different from what passengers see. In particular, the driver will be shown only the data necessary when driving the car, such as speed, range/fuel, and so on.
The main element of the Holographic HUD is the thinnest transparent film applied to the glass. Using this film, whose thickness is less than 100 micrometers (about 0.1 mm), holographic images and videos are formed. The transparent display will be manufactured and supplied by Zeiss. It is reported that the first prototypes of the system are already undergoing closed testing, and mass production could begin by 2027.