Foofu is an application that allows passengers to finger draw on virtual window condensation.
General Motors engineers are working on a series of applications that would turn the rear window of a car into an interactive transparent screen that could amuse children of all ages. Working in conjunction with researchers and students from the Future Lab at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Israel, the Windows of Opportunity – WOO – Project turns car windows into interactive displays.
If such interactive windows were put into automotive production they likely would use electronically charged “smart glass” technology, which is capable of variable states of translucence and transparency, and can reflect projected images. Smart glass is now used in architectural and display applications, but outside of movies like Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is rarely seen in cars. Alas, there are no immediate plans for production.
Spindow is an app that provides its users a peek into other users’ windows around the globe in real time.
“Traditionally, the use of interactive displays in cars has been limited to the driver and front passenger, but we see an opportunity to provide a technology interface designed specifically for rear seat passengers,” said Tom Seder, GM R&D lab group manager for human-machine interface. “Advanced windows that are capable of responding to vehicle speed and location could augment real world views with interactive enhancements to provide entertainment and educational value.”
The intriguing applications include:
- Otto, an animated character projected over passing scenery that responds to real-time car performance, weather and landscape. .
- Foofu, an app that allows passengers to play through finger drawing on virtual window condensation.
- Spindow, an app that provides its users a peek into other users’ windows around the globe in real time.
- Pond, an app that allows passengers to stream and share music with other cars on the road, downloads favorite tracks, and share messages with other passengers on the road.
To demonstrate these apps, the students produced a full scale functional prototype of a rear passenger seat and side window. The students used motion and optical sensor technology developed by EyeClick to turn standard window glass into a multi-touch and gesture sensitive surface.
