Continental has received two accolades: its touch-enabled 3D display, specifically designed for automotive center consoles, won the 2020 German Innovation Award in the "Outstanding B2B Company" category. Furthermore, its glasses-free 3D center console display also won the 2020 Automotive Brand Awards in the "Future, Driving Experience, and Components" category. "We are delighted that our glasses-free 3D center console display has won two awards. Through innovative light field display technology and touch functionality, we have created a glasses-free 3D experience, enhancing the user experience for all occupants while also improving comfort and operational safety," said Dr. Frank Rabe, Head of Human-Machine Interfaces at Continental.
Naked-eye 3D experience: Light field display technology replaces special glasses and head-tracking cameras
Continental has incorporated a glasses-free 3D center console display as a core element of human-machine interaction into the automotive cockpit. The light field display technology, developed in collaboration with Leia Inc., a Silicon Valley-based company in California, provides all passengers with a glasses-free 4K resolution 3D experience without the need for special glasses or head-tracking cameras. The holographic effect of the light field display consists of eight images of the same object, each slightly different depending on the viewer's position. Three-dimensional highlights, enhancements, and sophisticated lighting effects transmit information comfortably and safely. Furthermore, the glasses-free 3D center console display is the first to offer gesture interaction with holographic images, allowing drivers to operate the system "blindly" and providing a completely new holographic user experience for both drivers and passengers.
Enhanced comfort and operational safety through unique touch controls and active haptic feedback.
Another feature of the naked-eye 3D center console display is the integration of touch control with active haptic feedback. This is the first 3D automotive display to combine these features. Capacitive contactless gesture interaction allows operators to operate more intuitively on the prominent hologram. Furthermore, the interaction between touch functionality and the 3D display makes it easier for users to estimate distances and reduce reaction time to unexpected events. Haptic feedback (vibration) tells the user that a button has been pressed, allowing for almost "blind" control. The display's touch functionality and 3D presentation combine enhanced operational safety, increased comfort, and significantly improved user-friendliness.
German Innovation Award and Car Brand Competition
Since 1953, the German Federal Parliament initiated the establishment of the German Design Council to recognize innovative, branded, and design achievements with international renown. The German Innovation Award, as an international award, focuses on and recognizes impactful cross-industry innovation: solutions, specific customer-centric innovations and services, and added value compared to previous solutions. Companies from all industries, as well as non-commercial organizations and government organizations worldwide, are eligible to participate in the German Innovation Award. The German Design Council presented the German Innovation Awards in Berlin on May 26th.
The Automotive Brand Awards is the only neutral and internationally-oriented design competition for automotive brands. Awarded by the German Design Council for outstanding product and communication design, it holds significant influence in the automotive industry regarding branding and brand design. The awards are divided into 13 categories and 4 special categories. These categories cover the entire design field, from vehicle design and concepts, brand design and multimedia networks, to brand planning and events. The official awards ceremony for the Automotive Brand Awards will be held in the autumn of 2020.
