Jaguar Land Rover is designing in-car 3D displays for future vehicles

Brand new cars are increasingly coming with integrated infotainment systems fitted as standard, designed to keep drivers in the loop with useful navigation and communication information, or serve as a display screen for safety devices like reversing cameras. One manufacturer is taking things one step further - Jaguar Land Rover has recently announced that it’s developing new in-car infotainment displays with 3D and augmented reality capabilities. It’s all part of its vision for a 'Smart Cabin’ in future Jaguar Land Rover vehicles, and the company has started by outlining the safety and entertainment benefits it plans for its new systems to bring. 

Will the new features be unsafe?

If the idea of sci-fi style holograms popping out of display screens makes you nervous, you’re not the only one. However, researchers at Jaguar Land Rover have been quick to clarify that’s not the vision they have in mind. The new systems are actually being developed with safety as a foremost concern. Amongst the plans for the new HUD systems involve project three-dimensional lane departure warnings and hazard perception warnings onto car windscreens. It’ll also display satnav instructions, as well as features that can offset poor visibility caused by bad weather or light conditions.

This might all sound like a lot going on at once, but don’t forget it will probably be rare for all these systems to be engaged at the same time! Plus, they won’t necessarily be jumping out at you, but projected onto a different surface such as your windscreen. In other words, think less Star Wars-style holograms, and more Google Glass-style overlays. (Hopefully, though, a lot more successful than Google Glass!)

According to JLR, their research already indicates that HUDs with a high-quality 3D effect can help drivers to respond faster to pop-up notifications, and help with depth perception. The intent is that this will significantly improve their reaction times on the roads. Obviously though, it’s yet to see widespread rollout!

How in-car entertainment will evolve

The technology is still in its early stages at the moment, and Jaguar Land Rover is exploring a couple of different options. Many of them centre on an innovative central display screen - the current plan is to allow passengers and ride sharers to independently select their own infotainment. That means they’ll be able to watch films or TV programmes (in 3D, without glasses), check the progress of the journey, or even explore some local points of interest. 

Most impressively, the researchers plan to use a combination of eye-tracking and head-tracking technologies to allow each person to do this independently, all on the same screen. That means drivers can quickly find out about local traffic jams and similar upcoming obstacles, while a child in the passenger seat can watch their favourite TV series to while away the longer journeys. 

Like all emerging automotive technologies though, there are still a few kinks to be worked out, and the systems aren’t quite ready for the mass market just yet. The same can’t be said for dashboard cameras and reversing cameras, both widely available products that we stock right here at Car Communications. They’re excellent for improving safety and convenience for drivers, helping you to more easily avoid stressful collisions and expensive insurance claims. Feel free to browse to your heart’s content, or if you’ve got any questions or need any advice we’ll be happy to help - just give us a call on 01254 694537!