Component giant Continental is developing what it calls ‘infrared curtains’. It is the company’s latest effort to develop infrared technology-based control designs for future affordable cars. The new multi-touch control technology will help enhance a car's appeal in the price-sensitive four-wheeler segment. With this new ‘infrared curtains’ tech, Continental developers are opting for an economical alternative to touch-sensitive display units.

“Back in 2011, we showed that an infrared curtain can turn any surface in the car('s) interior into a user interface,” says Fook Wai Lee, display developer at Continental Singapore. “We have now developed this technology to the point where it also recognises typical multi-touch gestures as input, like swiping, zooming, and pinching.”

Continental also explains how its technology has better recognition capabilities. Capacitive touch screens, like the ones on smartphones, cannot be used easily with standard gloves. If necessary, it needs specially designed gloves. “With our infrared technology, there is no need for special gloves – our infrared curtain is able to detect touch gestures of gloved fingers," adds Fook Wai Lee.