In 2015, BMW introduced hand gestures to its customers and the outside world to control several functions in the cabin. However, it was unpopular, and now the Germans are dropping the idea.
BMW has decided to remove a feature it introduced back in 2015: gesture control. The feature, which allowed the driver to control certain functions with hand gestures, was originally launched in the then-new 7 Series.
BMW has acknowledged that the feature was not used by many car owners. BMW believes that voice control is now a more effective alternative to gesture control.
According to BMW Blog, the decision to drop gesture control is because the brand's new voice control system, powered by artificial intelligence, has become so much better that it is the best alternative.
Gesture control was a feature that allowed the driver to adjust the volume by twirling their fingers in the air or change songs by moving their hand left or right.
However, the feature was not very visible in the cars unless you knew it existed, and even then it was not necessarily practical to use.
BMW is now introducing a new generation of cars called the Neue Klasse, which will have completely new software and hardware. In fact, the Germans believe that one of the first cars will resemble the E30 3-Series. Read more about it here .
The Neue Klasse cars will be built on a platform that can accommodate both electric cars and those with combustion engines.
The interior will also be more technologically advanced with features like a head-up display that stretches from one side of the windshield to the other, even though the German company's CEO believes that the very large screens will end up being banned.
The steering wheel in new BMWs will have touch buttons. It is still unknown whether the Germans will stick to that strategy, at a time when several of their biggest competitors recognize that customers would rather have physical buttons.
For example, Volkswagen has acknowledged that physical buttons are something customers would rather have. Hyundai says the same.
The American Lucid Motors also believes that the buttons are here to stay. It is partly because of the buttons that the brand believes it is at least 7 years ahead of its competitor Tesla. Read this and more exciting stories Boosted – every day.
