Remember when you were young and were amazed that your mom always knew what mischief you were up to? She said she had eyes in the back of her head, and you believed it!
Today’s cars are much like mothers. They have eyes not only in the back, but the sides and now the front. Forward-facing cameras are quickly gaining popularity.
Most are purchased aftermarket and are especially helpful if there’s an accident to prove who was a fault. But forward cameras in cars today are only used when parking or maneuvering out of a space. They weren’t on all the time like purchased cameras.
As vehicles grow more technologically advanced, they are relying more on cameras to protect you on the road. Many manufacturers are working on incorporating forward-facing cameras designed to record front vision while driving.
One brand, Continental, is showcasing an entirely new way to use a camera, but not for safety; rather it’s designed for entertainment. As we slowly move toward autonomous vehicles, we are looking for ways to make the trip more enjoyable since we no longer must steer, as well as looking to our vehicles for entertainment purposes.
Continental is working on introducing an in-cabin projection technology that can turn any parking lot into a drive-in theater. We no longer are satisfied watching a movie on the in-car screens.
This technology projects a high-definition image onto the side windows of a parked car to create a viewable screen for both static images and movies. Continental says the bigger the windows, the bigger the images, so invite your friends! We assume this technology will eventually be viewable from inside while the vehicle is moving as well.
This technology is in use in China on the subway trains. As you ride along underground, moving images are projected on the windows, giving you something to look at instead of a dark, underground tunnel.
No date as to when the system will go into production. All that’s left now is to decide who’s bringing popcorn and hot dogs!
