Volkswagen has patented a new technology poised to frustrate drivers—assuming it ever makes it to production. The proposed invention, filed with the German Patent and Trademark Office in 2024, but only recently published, wants you to use your eyes to control the vehicle.
Instead of having a bank of buttons for every possible function, VW wants drivers to look at what they want to operate first and then input their controls via a universal device, such as a pad on the steering wheel.
You want to turn on the windshield wipers? You have to look at them first. The sunroof? Gotta look at that. Want to adjust the volume? Glance at the radio, or you might accidentally activate the wipers. Why is Volkswagen doing this? According to a translated version of the patent filing:
‘As a rule, an increasing number of functions/setting options leads to a deeper menu structure (softkey) or a multiplication of control elements (hardkey). The user is increasingly distracted from the traffic situation during operation.’
Photo by: Volkswagen
So, VW’s solution is to give you one universal controller and then force the driver to glance at whatever they want to control, which seems like it’d be an even bigger distraction than using physical controls.
None of the operations that Volkswagen highlights can be controlled with this technology are vital, but having to adjust seat heating, windows, wipers, multimedia, and more by looking at them first to activate the controls seems like a solution looking for a problem.
If VW is concerned about drivers being distracted, physical controls that users can commit to muscle memory would seem safer (and costlier). Drivers would be able to locate the desired function on the instrument panel without needing to look away from the road.
The patent pairs this eye-tracking technology with voice control, and while much of it references drivers interacting with the system through a physical input device, Volkswagen suggests users might be able to change functions via a hologram one day. Volkswagen has already faced massive pushback for its minimalist approach to interiors and its use of capacitive controls.
Volkswagen has vowed to bring back buttons to its vehicles, and we hope this patent is nothing more than an idea the company will put on a shelf of bad ideas.
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