VW Readies Gesture Control Technology

Volkswagen AG’s new e-Golf Touch concept vehicle features a gesture control system the company describes as an “early series-production preview.” Media reports speculate the technology, which allows users to control some infotainment functions via hand gestures, will debut on the revamped Golf compact car next year.

The e-Golf system is an updated version of the first-generation gesture control technology VW showed a year ago in the Golf R Touch concept car. In addition to gesture control capability, the e-Golf’s high-resolution (1280 x 640 pixels) 9.2-inch infotainment display has four touch-sensitive buttons—Menu, Home, Car, App—plus a push-rotary switch.

The screen is divided into three sections with one large display and two smaller tiles stacked to the side. Users can configure each of the displays to show one of the infotainment system’s 10 functions. The carmaker didn’t say what functions can be accessed with hand gestures.

The e-Golf also features VW’s next-generation voice control technology that will be launched on production models this summer in Europe. In addition to improved clarity, VW says the technology is the first automotive voice recognition system that can be activated by speaking a command, such as “Hello, Volkswagen,” rather than pushing a button. Spoken commands also are displayed on the screen.