CES 2016: Bosch to unveil radical interior concept

Automotive technology consultants to the car industry, Bosch, has announced it will unveil an all-new concept at next week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The new, as yet unnamed concept, is claimed to preview the “user interfaces of tomorrow” and could revolutionise the way we control and even communicate with, the cars we drive.

Featuring a huge infotainment system and electronic display that stretches from the tops of the doors across the entire length of the dashboard, even filling the centre console, both driver and passenger of the sports car concept are confronted with the very latest touchscreen technology that incorporates haptic feedback.

Haptic feedback is when it feels like the screen is reacting to your physical touch -- this can be done using vibrations or sound frequencies.

The information on show, says Bosch, changes with the vehicle’s surroundings.

If a pedestrian approaches from the right, a lighting sequence is triggered to alert the driver in the direction of the hazard.

The new infotainment system has also been created to be a personal assistant - if an appointment is cancelled, the car of the future will automatically indicate the new route to the next meeting.

Bosch says its concept is also capable of being virtually connected to a smart home. This means it can monitor and operate both the house’s heating and security system or will deal automatically with couriers delivering parcels when you’re not at home.

The new state-of-the-art touch-screen generates the feel of rough, smooth and patterned surfaces to indicate buttons and functions. The different textures and surfaces help the driver operate the system without looking at the screen reducing the risk of distracted driving.

As well as the new screen, Bosch is also working on a cloud-based warning system that updates the driver of dangers ten-seconds after they’re reported, thanks to streaming of real-time information.

Bosch will also show off its automated driving technology that it’s been testing on public roads as well as a new valet parking feature that enables the car to park itself in a carpark.